Farmers of Nandagudi hobli have decided to restrict entry of land purchasers into their villages. Ryots who took part in the protest rally organised by Nandagudi Bhooswadheena Virodhi Horata Samiti in Nandagudi on Sunday, decided to place hoardings restricting entry of land-seekers into their villages. The State government has approved the setting up of a Special Economic Zone in the hobli.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha State president Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said boards would be put up at the entrance of all 36 villages coming under the proposed SEZ. The boards will state that no farmer is ready to part with his land, irrespective of the price offered. Farmers will not give up agriculture either. Entry of government officials or people representing industry for purchase of land will be restricted, he said. Lakshmeesha, farmers’ leader of K Satyavara Village in the hobli, said the order for boards has been placed.

Special drive
Starting September 10, a special drive to install boards in all villages will be launched. Leaders of Raitha Sangha, including Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, will tour all villages to install boards and spread awareness on the ‘ill-effects’ of the SEZ.

H S Kenche Gowda, president of Horata Samithi, said it was difficult to bring large numbers of farmers at one place as they were busy with their agriculture work.

The Samithi has decided to hold awareness programmes in the evenings, the time where farmers are available in good numbers.

Sudhakar Reddy, MP (CPI) from Andhra Pradesh, appealed to farmers to intensify their protest against SEZs. T Ramachandran, an independent MLA from Tamil Nadu, also took part in the protest.

SEZ SAGA
Reel-life story, real-life story

Farmers of Nandagudi hobli have identified themselves with Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar’s latest movie, Mathad Mathadu Mallige. More than 300 farmers from the hobli watched the movie at Santhosh theatre in Bangalore on Friday. The movie deals with farmers of a village fighting for their land.

Lakshmeesha, a farmer from Satyavara, said the story was no different from that of Nandagudi farmers. “The movie’s story revolves around a village (Jenukoppa) of floriculturists. They fight for their land and succeed in their effort. Similarly, Nandagudi is a hobli known for flowers and we are also facing the same problem,” he said.
He said over 300 farmers came to Bangalore in two buses to watch the movie. “We are thankful to director Chandrashekhar and producer K Manju for making a movie based on the farmers’ woes.”