Silk farmers to lay siege to Soudha on June 14

Forum threatens bundh on June 28 if Govt does not act

A decision to this effect was taken, owing to the apathetic attitude of both - the State and and the Centre - towards the plight of the silk farmers, disclosed president of the District Silk Farmers’ Welfare Forum Mallur Shivanna, at a press conference here on Saturday.

Price fall

The rate of cocoon, which was once Rs 450 per kg, is now merely Rs 120. As a result, both silk growers and reelers are experiencing serious financial crisis. Several appeals to alleviate the problem have fallen on deaf ears, Shivanna rued.

Referring to the decision to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha, Forum convenor Yaluvahalli Sonnegowda said about five thousand silk growers from the district would participate in the protest.

“It the Government still fails to respond, all the seven districts growing silk will be closed on June 28,” he warned.

Negligence

Due to the soft stand adopted by the silk farmers, the Governments were neglecting their plight. They had failed to respond to the needs of silk farmers.

Hence, in order to seek the attention of the Governments the silk farmers had decided to launch a massive agitation. They will continue to fight till their demands were met with, Shivanna said.

Unfulfilled promises

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Union Minister for Law and Justice Veerappa Moily had promised to solve the problems of the silk farmers and silk reelers.

But so far, they had not bothered to keep their promise. It was in protest against this attitute that it had become inevitable for the silk farmers to lay a seige to the Vidhana Soudha and had also decided to declare ‘district bundh,’ the president said.

The ruling party leaders are busy trying to save the Government while the Opposition leaders spend time planning on overthrowing the Government. “Meanwhile, however, we continue suffering. There is nobody redressing our problems although the silk industry continues losing Rs four to five crore per day,” he added.

Silk growers Bhaktarahalli Byregowda, Mallur Harish, H K Suresh, Kolavanahalli Muniraju and others were present at the press conference.