Raitha Sangha protests 'anti-farmer' policies

The members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene and Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha of Dakshina Kannada unit staged a protest against the anti-farmer policies followed by the Union and the State governments in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Tuesday.

Addressing the protesters, President of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha of Dakshina Kannada unit K Sriyan urged the government to waive the loan  borrowed by farmers.

The government should disburse a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of farmers and farm workers who have committed suicide. Arecanut Board should be constituted for the welfare of arecanut growers. The government’s decision to allow FDI in rubber plantation should be withdrawn, he demanded.

Wild animals are destroying crops. The government should initiate measures to protect crops from wild animal menace, Sriyan said.

He also demanded the establishment of a monkey park and a peacock park. Crop insurance should be extended to all crops. The FDI in retail sector should not be allowed. The FDI should not enter APMC sector as well, he said.

Seeking measures to take up permanent irrigation facility in the district, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene district unit President Ravikiran Punacha said a committee should be constituted to look into the need for permanent irrigation facility.

“If the government assures scientific prices for agriculture crops, then the condition of farmers will improve.  A suitable legislation should be passed to provide title deeds for five acre land for the farmers who are cultivating on Bagar Hukum land. The Kasturirangan report recommendations will affect the farmers and they should not be implemented. The irrigation projects that have been initiated in North Karnataka should be expedited. The Kalasa-Banduri project should be taken up at the earliest. Quality power should be supplied to farmers,” he said.

He said all the cooperative sick sugar industries should be revived in the State. The pending arrears for sugarcane growers should be paid at the earliest and the State government should also disburse suitable compensation for the farmers in the drought-hit region, Punacha demanded.

Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha General Secretary Yadav Shetty said farm and forest land are destroyed in the name of development in the district.
They should be protected when mega projects are implemented in the future. The proposed pipelines should be laid beside the national highways, he urged the government, he demanded.