The Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association and the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene have given a bandh call on September 5 to protest against the alleged indifferent attitude of the Union and State governments towards the problems of farmers.
State president of the association, Kurubur Shanthakumar, said here on Saturday that political parties would be kept away from the bandh and farmers, social organisations and pro-Kannada organisations would be involved. He was addressing a convention here.
Mr. Shanthakumar said that the farmers would hold a rally in Bengaluru on September 7 and picket the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in protest against the government’s failure to announce steps to end farm suicides.
He demanded that the Union and State governments take steps to waive off crop loans taken by farmers from nationalised and cooperative banks in view of the drought situation in the State. They should also try to overcome technical glitches to find a permanent solution to expedite the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.
Mr. Shanthakumar said that the sugarcane growers association extended its support to the agitation by the farmers in north Karnataka.
Mr. Shanthakumar said that the State government should initiate steps to direct sugar factories to settle the Rs. 574 crore due for the 2013-14 crushing season and Rs. 2,400 crore due for the in 2014-15 season.
He said that the Union government should announce a Vidarbha model package of Rs. 10,000 crore to Karnataka and change the norms for extending crop loans. Banks should be asked to lend crop loans to the extent of 75 per cent of the cost of the land owned by the farmer. The families of the farmers who had committed suicide should be provided Rs. 10 lakh as compensation, he added.
