JOIN USMembers of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged a protest in front of the taluk office on Friday, urging the government to provide a permanent solution to farmers’ suicides.
The protesters also blocked the road near the taluk office, while there were additional protests by members of the Raitha Sangha, Dalita Sangharsha Samiti and Akhila Bharata Kisan Sabha.
The protesters demanded that the government should immediately respond to the plight of the farmers, who have been affected by droughts and blocked the Belur Road for a long time. They also demanded that the loan recovery drive by banks should be stopped.
“The families of farmers who have committed suicide should be recompensed appropriately. Farmers should also be provided seeds, manure and fertilisers,” they added.
“The APMCs should be freed from the menace of middlemen and farmers should be enabled to carry out direct transactions with buyers,” they said, later submitting a memorandum to the tahsildar.
Raitha Sangha state secretary Manjunath, district president M C Basavaraj and others participated in the protest.
Better prices
The members of the Dalita Mattu Pragatipara Sanghatanegala Okkoota also protested in front of the taluk office, and urged the government to provide scientific prices for agricultural produce.
They took out a procession from the taluk office till the deputy commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner Vaishali. They also urged that the dalit agriculturists be provided with land records and title deeds.
“Also, land must be sanctioned to the landless poor who have applied under Form NO 50 and 53. Encroachment above five acres must be cleared,” they demanded, adding that the anti-superstition bill be implemented.
District president of the forum Srinivas, Angadi Chandru and DSS district convenor K P Rajarathnam were present, among others.
Irrigation
Members of Akhila Bharatha Kisan Sabha staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office and urged that new irrigation projects be implemented after the completion of irrigation projects that have been taken up.
They said that the loans availed by farmers – from nationalised banks and cooperative banks – till Rs five lakhs should be waived. “Also, recommendations by Swaminathan Committee Report should be brought into effect,” they said, submitting a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner Vaishali.
Kisan Sabha district president N R Manjunath and secretary K S Ramesh were part of the protest.