Farmer suicides the worst ever witnessed in Karnataka: Deve Gowda

BENGALURU: Describing the wave of suicides by farmers as the worst witnessed by him in Karnataka, JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to rush to the rescue of farming community by asking banks to stop recovery of loans or waive them forthwith.

He told the media that though the state witnessed suicides by farmers when Mr S.M. Krishna was the Chief Minister, the current scenario was the worst in terms of number of farmers ending their lives. “Officials in various states have been instructed by respective state governments to convert farmers’ suicide into case of death due to other reasons. Farmers are running out of options to clear their debts, while the governments are stooping to low levels to save their skin,” he added.

Mr Gowda urged the Prime Minister to announce that he would direct public sector banks to stop recovery of farm loans. “If the assurance comes from the Prime Minister, farmers will definitely believe him. The RBI might say that it would amount to financial indiscipline. But, Mr Modi should announce it in his ‘Man Ki Baat’ address. In turn, the state government has to give an undertaking to clear all debts in stipulated time,” Mr Gowda said, adding that he would speak to Mr Modi in this regard.

He asked the state government to waive farm loans. “I can suggest ways to raise funds for this purpose. Either they can save some wasteful expenditure, or recover encroached land and auction it,” Mr Gowda added.

Criticising leaders of Congress and BJP for the logjam in parliament, Mr Gowda said these two national parties should understand that this would not help people. “I had given a notice to speak about farmers. After seeing the agenda, I decided not to attend parliament. Mr Yeddyurappa took up the farmers’ issue, but the House was not in order. Under such circumstances, farmers will not feel secure about their future, he added.

Three more farmers commit suicide

Farmer suicides continue to keep the state on the edge with a debt-ridden farmer hanging himself at his farmhouse at Haladdahalli Koppalu village in Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru Tuesday afternoon over crop failure and mounting pressure to repay loans. The farmer was identified as Chandre Gowda, 58.

Gowda owned three acres of land and cultivated tomato, onion and capsicum but the crop failed forcing him to take the drastic step. He is said to have borrowed Rs 3 lakh from a bank and another Rs 2 lakh from private moneylenders.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr Satish B.C visits the house of Fakruddin Saab Rajasab Angadi who is on a hunger strike demanding compensation for his paddy crop loss at Bagadageri village, Kalghatagi, Dharwad district on Tuesday (Photo: KPN)

Overburdened by loans, a 53-year-old farmer reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Naganahalli village in  Mysuru taluk on Tuesday. Hemakanth, son of late Umapathigowda is the deceased.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. He had reportedly borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh and had urged family members to permit him to sell the agricultural land to clear the loan which they refused.

In Srirangapatha taluk in Mandya district, a 50-year-old farmer attempted commit suicide by consuming poison in Aalgodu in Arkere police station limits on Tuesday. He is battling for life at Mandya district hospital. The farmer is Shivanna, son of Siddegowda. He had borrowed Rs 60,000 including Rs 20,000 from a bank.

Fighting suicides with plays, motivational talk

Department of information and public relations of the state government has embarked on a 20-day campaign with the message ‘Baduku-Besaya: Raitha Santwana Yathre’ with the motto of lending support to disheartened families across the State affected by the spree of farmer suicides.

The government will be using the publicity vehicles of the department to carry this message of the chief minister to all villages in the state to boost the confidence of farmers. More than 230 farmers have ended their lives in the last four months in Karnataka owing to various reasons.

Raitha Geete, composed by Hamsalekha and Rangayana Director Janardhan (Janni) as well as streetplays would be used to dissuade farmers from taking the extreme step. A short film sharing the experience and opinions of progressive farmers who have found solutions to various problems in agriculture on their own and endured all the difficulties, would be shown during the campaign.

Local progressive farmers will also exchange ideas and information regarding various facilities and services extended by different departments will also be made available. The departments of agriculture, horticulture and co-operation has joined hands with the department of information in this endeavour.

Along with these field publicity initiatives, ‘Annadatana Aathmakathana’, a series of programmes on various issues pertaining to agriculture would be broadcast by All India Radio stations in the state in association with AIR, Mysuru.