Gorak Singh report will be implemented: Moily

Officers level meet in Bangalore on January 22 will discuss the problem

Union Minister for Corporate Affairs M Veerappa Moily assured farmers that the recommendations made by National Horticulture Commissioner Gorak Singh in his report on the conditions of farmers whose plantations are affected by yellow leaf disease will be implemented.

He was speaking after inaugurating a rally of areca farmers jointly organised by the District Congress Committee and Kisan Congress at Koppa Town Municipal sports ground on Monday.

The rally was held to demand the government for waiving the loans of areca farmers whose plantations have been affected by yellow leaf disease and for the implementation of Gorak Singh report.

The Minister said that the Central government has provided monetary aid for reviving areca crop under National Horticulture Mission. A senior level officers’ meeting will be called in Bangalore on January 22 to implement the scheme and to discuss other problems faced by the farmers.

It is not a challenge for the Central government to give monetary aid package to the farmers, but at present the government is planning to introduce such a programme where the the farmers get the strength to fix rate for the crops grown.

The State government has never placed any proposal in front of the Central government for solving the problems of areca growers. The Centre will support if the State asks for a fixed package to the farmers, he informed.

KPCC President G Parameshwar said that the Central government is responding to the problems of all growers including areca, coconut, silk and others who are in trouble.

Raita Sangha leader Sudhir Kumar Murolli said that cases have been booked in the Court regarding loan repayment of 84 farmers in the region. Biased decisions are taken against the farmers and the process should be stopped, he requested.

National Congress Secretary Oscar Fernandes, opposition party leader Motamma, MP Anil Lad and others were present.