School Children Wait in Line Amid Urea Shortage in Nalgonda and Suryapet

As the Kharif sowing season enters its crucial final week in August, farmers in Nalgonda and Suryapet districts are growing anxious due to a severe shortage of urea. The scarcity has reached such an extent that even schoolchildren are being made to stand in long queues at fertiliser distribution centres, sacrificing their studies to help their families.

A ninth-class student, Payali Mithilesh, drew attention from farmers and officials when he joined the queue for urea on Monday. Wearing his school uniform, he was seen at 6 am requesting others to allow him to reach the official at the Nalgonda District Marketing



Society outlet on Miryalaguda road, as he could not afford to miss school.

Mithilesh’s parents, unable to secure urea despite a week-long wait, sent him to fetch two bags before heading to school. Burdened with farm work, they relied on their son, who broke down in tears after failing to obtain fertiliser that was once readily available to farmers.

Despite waiting for hours, the stock ran out before his turn, forcing him to return empty-handed.

“I called my parents and told them I couldn’t get the urea. Now I’m heading to school late,” Mithilesh said.