The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a four-member cabinet sub-committee to investigate the cases of farmers committing suicide in the state.

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy told journalists after the cabinet's first meeting that the sub-committee, consisting of the ministers for agriculture, revenue, home and cooperation, would probe the antecedents of the 40-odd farmers who committed suicide after the Congress government took office in the state. They would also study the cases of 53 farmers sought government assistance, using the help line the government had set up in the districts.

The chief minister said the government had asked district collectors to decide if there should be a date after which relatives of farmers who commit suicide could no longer seem compensation. A decision is expected soon.

"The government is committed to provide every possible assistance" and the committee would study each case thoroughly, Reddy said.

The cabinet also asked concerned departments to review all important decisions taken by the previous government between January 1, 2003 and May 14 this year. The review would cover decisions pertaining to infrastructure development projects, tourism projects, allotment of lands over five acres to individuals and organizations, and other issues.

Meanwhile, three dissident ministers -- State Congress president and Rural Development Minister D Srinivas, School Education Minister N Rajyalaskhmi and Labour Minister G Vinod -- did not attend the new state government's first cabinet meeting.

While Srinivas, who was unhappy with the "unimportant" portfolio given to him, left for Delhi, Rajyalakshmi has sent in her resignation to the chief minister, protesting that her husband N Janardhana Reddy had not been included in the Central cabinet. G Vinod is upset that his father, ex-union minister G Venkatswamy, was denied a seat in the national government.