Karnataka Government’s incentive reaches districts but not farmers
Mysuru: Even though the state government has released the first instalment of Rs 353 crore to clear the arrears of sugarcane growers for the year 2013-14 by July 10, it will take no less than a week before it reaches the accounts of farmers, farmer leaders opine.
Sugar factories in the state owe arrears of Rs 923 crore to sugarcane growers for the year 2013-14. As per the legal provisions under FRP, the state government can seize the sugar to clear the arrears of farmers if factories fail to clear the arrears within 14 days. But the factories had kept the dues for more than six months. Hence in December 2014, a high court order was issued to seize the sugar to clear the arrears of farmers.
Hence the state government has agreed to clear the entire Rs 923 crore which is due for the year 2013-14 by the month end, said, Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association Head Mr Kurubur Shanthakumar.
While the state has released the first installment on Monday, it is yet to reach the respective Deputy Commissioners in the districts. Once it is done, it will be deposited in the farmers’ accounts in a weeks’ time, as they have procured lists of farmers from the factories, Mr Shanthakumar said.
Farmers’ misery continues, two more suicides
Two farmers—one in Kodagu district and another in Hassan district—both in distress and debt, committed suicide on Tuesday. Narayan, 65, committed suicide in Bedagotta, Madalapura in Kushalnagar police station limits, in Kodagu district, He is survived by three children from his first wife (late Dakshayini), including two sons—an advocate and a teacher, and a married daughter, and his second wife Nagarathna and her married daughter.
He owned six acres and tended to paddy, ragi and jowar. According to a complaint lodged by his son Santhosh, the farmer had borrowed Rs 1.5 lakhs from a co-operative bank, and Rs 2.5 lakhs from a public sector bank. Unable to repay these loans, he took the extreme step. In Kuruvakuru village of Hassan district, Thimme Gowda, 38, took the extreme step after he suffered losses in cultivation in his banana plantation.
He owned about five acres, tended to a banana plantation in about three acres of land and had borrowed loans from various banks hoping for a good crop. Besides, he had also pledged gold ornaments of his wife Geeta to secure more loans but could not repay them. He is survived by his wife and two children.
