KRRS, Sene stage stir to support areca growers

Give spl package, waive loans of ryots with less than 4 hectare land

When the farmer is suffering such a huge loss and is in a deplorable condition, how can the government expect the farmer to repay his loans? asked Rajya Raitha Sangha President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar.

Speaking at a dharna staged by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday urging to fulfil the farmers’ demands, he came down heavily on the district administration, the State government and the Central government for turning deaf ears towards the problems faced by the farmers.
Putting forth the demands of the areca growers who are incurring loss due to the less market price and yellow leaf disease among others, he said the government should provide a special remedial package to the farmers along with waiving the loans of the farmers with less than four hectare land.

“Several bankers are involved in confiscating the land and the belongings of the poor farmers which is not acceptable at any cost. Everyone is dependent on farmers and survive by consuming the product produced in the farm land. If we take that into consideration, everyone in this society is in debt, for their source of life-farmers are in debt. Do not insult the farmers by acquiring their land,” he said.

Meanwhile, he sarcastically asked the Karnataka State government to follow the footprints of the Kerala government by specifying the farmers to grow only those crops which are profitable. At least that way our farmers can be out of debt, he said and urged the government to issue title deeds of the kumki land to the farmers.

In order to oppose UPCL project, Raitha Sangha would carry out ‘Barkol’ (lathi) movement which would be held in Udupi on Friday, he said. “The government should not expect the public to consume poison just for the sake of producing extra electricity,” he said. He also informed about the ‘Barkol’ movement which will be held in Koppal on April 11 against the Police Superintendent for carrying out lathicharge against the farmers earlier.

In the dharna which went on peacefully, the protesters urged the Deputy Commissioner to come and address their grievance. However, in the absence of the DC, Additional DC Prabhakar Sharma received the demands of the protesters and assured them of discussing the issue with the DC. The Raitha Sangha has set a deadline of 20 days to meet their demands.