<p>A farmer from Chikkamagaluru district has appealed for euthanasia after his farmland—his only source of livelihood—was auctioned by the bank under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI).</p><p>D R Vijaya, accompanied by his wife H N Parvathi submitted a memorandum to the President of India through Tahsildar, Rajshekhar on Friday.</p><p>Speaking to mediapersons, farmer Vijaya said “I had borrowed Rs 25.90 lakh against four acres of coffee plantation in my name located at survey number 40/2 in Kelluru village. My wife had availed Rs 6 lakh agricultural loan against 3.39 acres of land under survey number 40/1. Due to repeated crop failures, price fluctuations, Covid-19 pandemic, erratic weather, and wild animal menace, we couldn’t repay the loans on time. In 2024, we repaid Rs 5.30 lakh and the bank had assured us time to repay the remaining dues.” However, the bank allegedly proceeded with the auction of their land without prior notice. “Property worth nearly Rs 3 crore was sold online for just Rs 89.5 lakh. We are now left with no means to survive,” Vijaya said. </p><p>B K Lakshman Kumar, president of Raitha Hitha Rakshana Vedike said “This is the first instance in the district where a farmer has pleaded for mercy killing due to distress caused by the SARFAESI Act. There are 2,700 farmers under the SARFAESI bracket in the district—of which 400 have repaid loans. But 2,300 farmers are at risk of losing their lands,” he urged.</p>
<p>A farmer from Chikkamagaluru district has appealed for euthanasia after his farmland—his only source of livelihood—was auctioned by the bank under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI).</p><p>D R Vijaya, accompanied by his wife H N Parvathi submitted a memorandum to the President of India through Tahsildar, Rajshekhar on Friday.</p><p>Speaking to mediapersons, farmer Vijaya said “I had borrowed Rs 25.90 lakh against four acres of coffee plantation in my name located at survey number 40/2 in Kelluru village. My wife had availed Rs 6 lakh agricultural loan against 3.39 acres of land under survey number 40/1. Due to repeated crop failures, price fluctuations, Covid-19 pandemic, erratic weather, and wild animal menace, we couldn’t repay the loans on time. In 2024, we repaid Rs 5.30 lakh and the bank had assured us time to repay the remaining dues.” However, the bank allegedly proceeded with the auction of their land without prior notice. “Property worth nearly Rs 3 crore was sold online for just Rs 89.5 lakh. We are now left with no means to survive,” Vijaya said. </p><p>B K Lakshman Kumar, president of Raitha Hitha Rakshana Vedike said “This is the first instance in the district where a farmer has pleaded for mercy killing due to distress caused by the SARFAESI Act. There are 2,700 farmers under the SARFAESI bracket in the district—of which 400 have repaid loans. But 2,300 farmers are at risk of losing their lands,” he urged.</p>
