Farmers who gave up their land to set up the Central University of Karnataka (CUK) at Kadaganchi in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district have decided to launch an indefinite protest in front of the varsity from May 11 demanding the Union and State governments to enhance the compensation for the land acquired for the project and provide employment to their family members.
Chandrasekhar Hiremath, president of the Shramajeevigala Vedike, told presspersons in Kalaburagi city on Tuesday said that the government had acquired around 329 acres of land belonging to 98 farmers in Kadaganchi and Suntnoor villages at a cost of Rs.2.5 lakh per acre and failed to provide additional compensation as announced during land acquisition. Mr. Hiremath said that many farmers have become landless labourers, the compensation was meagre, and employment was not provided.
Mr. Hiremath said that the government has gone back on its promise of providing employment to one member of each family that had lost agriculture land. The CUK has filled up 102 vacancies in Group C and D posts on contract and daily wages, of which only 11 persons belonging to families whose land had been acquired for the varsity were provided jobs.
The farmers would intensify their agitation if the government failed to find a solution within 40 days, he added.
