Bengaluru: Young farmer dead, father gets no compensation

Hubballi: Farmer Shankrappa Jamboor, 58,  of Arikatti village in Hirekerur taluk of Haveri district has been having a hard time getting  compensation for the death of his only son, Ravi,  who committed suicide after his cotton crop failed in July last year.

The family has not received compensation as the farm belongs to Mr Shankrappa and not his son. In fact, the committee headed by the assistant commissioner has not yet paid compensation to the families of  several such farmers who have committed suicide despite the change in guidelines with effect from April last year, allowing disbursal of compensation to even landless farm labourers, who ended their lives. 

As many as 96 farmers have committed suicide in Haveri district since April last year due to crop failure and their overwhelming debts. But the district administration has paid compensation to the families of only 38. 

Families of 32 others have been denied compensation for various reasons, including absence of land in the name of the deceased farmer, and bank loans taken by another member of the family.

“My son hanged himself as he was depressed over the bank harassing us for repayment of the Rs 4 lakh loan we took to sink two borewells.  Our hopes rose after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promised compensation to all families of farmers who committed suicide even if they did own the land they sowed. But the officials have not yet paid us despite several pleas,” said Mr Shankrappa.

Assistant commissioner, Siddu Hullolli, said he would hold a meeting soon to review the rejected cases of farmer suicides. "We will do a thorough verification of the cases after the agriculture department writes to us about them," he added, when contacted.