Decline in Agricultural Land in Telangana

Reduction in Agricultural Land:

• • Between 1956 and 2002, Telangana’s agricultural land reduced by 5,74,912 hectares (14,20,032 acres).
  • Major decline occurred during TDP rule, while Coastal Andhra saw an 18.91% increase in agricultural land.
  • Even Rayalaseema experienced an increase in agricultural land.

2. Agricultural Crisis in Telangana

Dependence on Wells:

• • Farmers in Telangana relied on wells for irrigation due to neglect of tank and canal systems.
  • Increasing electricity charges made farming unaffordable.

Farmer Suicides:

• • Financial distress and unfavorable conditions led to numerous suicides.
  • In 1997-1998, 300 farmers in Warangal district alone committed suicide.
  • Instead of offering help, the ruling class spread rumors blaming suicides on farmers seeking ex-gratia payments.

Neglect During Calamities:

• • Unlike Andhra, which received compensation for cyclone damage, Telangana received no aid during crises.

3. Educational Disparities in Telangana

Backwardness in Education:

• • Telangana lagged behind Andhra and Rayalaseema in education due to neglect.

Literacy Rate (2001 Census):

• • Telangana: 58.77%
  • Coastal Andhra: 63.58%
  • Rayalaseema: 60.53%
  • National average: 65.38%
  • Telangana ranked 32nd among states and union territories.

Dropout Rates:

• • High dropout rates in primary schools due to economic hardships.

Teachers’ Distribution:

• • Coastal Andhra: 76.30% of teachers in aided private schools.
  • Rayalaseema: 14.27%.
  • Telangana: Only 9.43%.

4. Discrimination in Education

Primary Education:

• • Telangana students constituted only 32.72% of total primary school students despite forming 40.69% of the state population.
  • Coastal Andhra students: 45.57%; Rayalaseema: 21.81%.

Degree-Level Education:

• • Telangana received only 24.07% of government grants for private degree colleges in 2002-2003.
  • Telangana districts (excluding Hyderabad) received only 13.7% of grants, while Guntur district alone received ₹21.9 crores, more than all Telangana districts combined.

5. University Disparities

State-Level Universities:

• • Telangana (excluding Hyderabad) had no state-level university.
  • Coastal Andhra had 3, Rayalaseema had 7, and Hyderabad had 12 universities.
  • Universities initially planned for Telangana were shifted elsewhere (e.g., JNTU moved from Warangal to Hyderabad, Open University moved from Nalgonda to Hyderabad).

Allocation of Central Universities:

• • Hyderabad Central University, EFLU, and Urdu University were established in Hyderabad but did not significantly benefit Telangana locals.
  • Telangana locals were underrepresented in university staff and admissions.

6. Neglect of Irrigation in Telangana

Canal Water Disparity:

• • Telangana farmers had to rely on personal investments for borewells and electricity, while Andhra farmers received subsidized canal irrigation at just ₹200 annually.

Tank System Collapse:

• • The historic chain tank system declined due to neglect and silt accumulation.
  • Land irrigated by tank water reduced by 56.88%, from 4,47,236 hectares (1956) to 2,69,492 hectares (2002).

7. Economic Exploitation

Uneven Development:

• • Telangana’s fertile lands were repurposed for urbanization projects like film cities, satellite cities, and corporate hospitals, benefiting non-local investors.
  • Telangana locals became landless laborers, while settlers from Andhra became wealthy landowners.

8. Water Mismanagement

Diversion of Rivers:

• • Despite major rivers like Godavari and Krishna flowing through Telangana, their waters were diverted to Andhra and Rayalaseema, leaving Telangana dry.

Discrimination in Water Access:

• • Telangana received no new irrigation projects post-merger, worsening drought conditions and forcing farmers to abandon agriculture.

9. Government Neglect

Policies Favoring Andhra:

• • Government prioritized Andhra and Rayalaseema in irrigation, education, and healthcare projects.
  • Vision 2020 reforms under Chandrababu Naidu further marginalized Telangana farmers and the poor.

10. Social Consequences

Mass Migration:

• • Economic desperation led to mass migration from Telangana to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Dubai.
  • Migration statistics:
    • Mahbubnagar district: 12-14 lakh people.
    • Nalgonda district: 5 lakh people.

Naxalism and State Repression:

• • Denied opportunities, many Telangana youth turned to Naxalism.
  • Thousands of youth and activists were killed in fake encounters during NTR, Chandrababu Naidu, and Janardhan Reddy regimes.

11. Call for Separate Telangana

• The systemic neglect, economic exploitation, social injustice, and cultural marginalization fueled the demand for a separate Telangana state.

Discrimination and Underdevelopment in Telangana

Sectors Neglected by Andhra Rulers:

• • Agriculture: Telangana farmers relied on groundwater due to lack of irrigation projects.
  • Irrigation: Despite Sections 107 and 108(1) of the States Reorganization Act mandating project completion, no major projects in Telangana were finished.
  • Electricity: Inequitable distribution led to developmental stagnation.
  • Education and Employment: Discriminatory policies reduced opportunities for Telangana youth.
  • Industrial and Medical Sectors: Telangana saw minimal investments and poor facilities.

Consequences of Neglect

• Hunger deaths, suicides, and mass migrations became routine in Telangana.
• People increasingly viewed Andhra rulers as responsible for their sufferings, leading to unrest.

Emerging Sentiment

• A strong belief developed that separation from Andhra Pradesh was the only solution for justice.
• This sentiment mobilized people for the next phase of the Telangana movement.