'JD(S) will introduce scientific support price for agri produces'

The JD(S) state Yuva Mahila Raitha Dal president Chaitra Gowda on Saturday said that the JD(S) would ensure scientific support price for agriculture produce if the party was voted to power in the May 12 Assembly election.

Speaking to reporters Chaitra termed farmers as backbone of the nation.

“Many farmers are under distress due to crop loss and prevailing drought over the last few years,” she said.

Chaitra Gowda added: “The JD(S) has chalked out several programmes for the welfare of farmers. The party state president H D Kumaraswamy has said that he will waive off farmers’ loans within 24 hours after coming to the power. Besides, the party will also fix scientific support price for all agriculture produces.”

She said that many farmers were under distress due to unscientific support prices for their produces. The youths were deviating from agriculture due to heavy losses and other challenges in the farm sector.

Replying to a query, she said that waiver was not the only solution for the problem, but, waiving off of farm loans was needed to make farmers economically stable.

“In areas like Kolar, there was scanty rainfall in the last season. Farmers have invested huge money on agriculture. Chances of harvesting crops is very bleak. Therefore, they need loan waiver,” she said.

In the press conference, a few physically-challenged people demanded the JD(S) to introduce several programmes for their welfare.

S Devendragowda, state president, physically challenged wing, JD (S) said that majority of the physically-challenged people were deprived and lacked necessary facilities.

“Every district has approximately 6,000 people with various types of disabilities. There is a need for a separate ministry for the physically-challenged people and 5% reservation should be provided for the disabled people in political bodies,” he said.

He demanded the establishment of offices of the Department for Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens at all 176 taluks in the state and demanded 10% reservation for disabled people in the recruitment process for Group A, B, C and D jobs in the governments.