There are hundreds of farmers committing suicide all over the State, but the government continues to neglect the community, said Parliamentarian Prathap Simha.

Addressing a felicitation programme for newly elected gram panchayat members at the Mahila Samaj hall in town on Wednesday, the MP said that 330 farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka so far. “The State government, however, is least bothered about the welfare of farmers,” he said, adding that the issue of farmers’ suicide has also been raised in the Lok Sabha.

Prathap further said that the funds sanctioned by the Central government, under the 14th Finance Commission, is being sent directly to gram panchayats. The funds should be utilised for the development programmes and for the effective implementation of schemes such as the PM’s insurance programme of the Central government, he added.
“It is important for gram panchayat members to retain the credibility in their constituencies,” he said, and criticised the former Parliamentarian for indulging in personal criticism without being able to digest his defeat in the last Parliamentary election.

“Preparations are being made to lay the Mysuru-Kushalnagar Railway line and the tender process is being initiated towards extending the line to Madikeri. The State government, however, is not cooperating for the work,” he complained.

Simha, meanwhile, assured the people that the Central government will respond to the problems of the coffee growers.

Speaking on the occasion, legislator K G Bopaiah said that the elected representatives of the gram panchayats can achieve great things, but only if they are willing. The taluk has been declared drought-affected, but the amount released as grant is not known yet, he said.

Bopaiah also complained that the Revenue Department has been completely defunct. “Akrama-Sakrama and other meetings are not being convened,” he said, and urged the government to clear thousands of acres of land of encroachments by companies.
BJP district unit president Suja Kushalappa claimed that the failure of the administration machinery was the chief reason for the death of farmers in the State.

Zilla Panchayat president Sharine Subbaiah, State vice-president of the party Reena Prakash and others spoke on the occasion.

BJP Virajpet unit president Raghu Nanaiah chaired the programme. District BJP youth forum general secretary Cheppudira Dinu and others were present. Newly elected representatives at gram panchayat level were felicitated on the occasion.