The Union Ministry of Finance (MOF) not addressing the problems of arecanut growers in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga and Chikkamagalur districts is a case of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning, observed Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen on Tuesday.
A division bench headed by the Chief Justice directed the Union Ministry of Finance to implement the recommendations of the Gorak Singh Committee within three months from Tuesday.
Hearing a petition by the farmers welfare association, Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen pointed out that there is a popular perception that financial institutions favour industrialists over agriculturists in providing assistance. To change this, positive measures in this direction have to be taken. The High Court directed the Ministry of Finance to intervene in the matter immediately and grant loan waivers to the arecanut growers as the agriculturists are unable to free themselves of their debts.
The petitioners stated that arecanut farmers have suffered huge losses due to crop failure and are unable to repay the loans and hence the government must waive the loans in their interest.
The petitioners had also contended that, 'the areacanut farmers have suffered losses and are not able to repay the loans borrowed for agricultural purposes as Yellow Leaf Disease (Haladi Roga), Dry Mahali (Kole Roga), Root Grub (Beru Roga) have affected the growth of arecanut. They have borrowed Rs 3,000 crore from the various banks but Centre is not waiving loans and implementing the Gorakh Singh Committee report.'
The bench ordered MOF to implement the recommendations within three months and adjourned the case for four weeks for further hearing.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks