The former Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council and Aland MLA B.R. Patil slammed the State government for hurriedly passing the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Amendment Bill, bringing in many important changes in the functioning of the Panchayat Raj Bodies, without detailed discussion in the recent short session of the Assembly.
Addressing a joint press conference along with the District Raita Horata Samiti president Kedarlingaiah Hiremath here on Monday, Mr. Patil urged Governor Vajubhai Vala not to give his consent to the amendment of the Panchayat Raj Act, since it had been passed without discussion in the Assembly and council.
He said that it was unfortunate that the State government, which had introduced as many as 110 amendments to the original Act, allowed it to be passed without giving an opportunity to the legislators to give their opinion and suggestions on the changes brought to the original Act.
Mr. Patil said that the entire 12-day session of the Assembly was conducted in a casual manner without any seriousness.
The important issues like the drought, agrarian crisis, and the response of the government to the problems encountered by the farmers were not at all discussed in full seriousness.
He said that the State government must provide all the details about the action taken by it to ameliorate the distress-stricken farm community.
The government also failed to provide the full details of the funds received from the Union government for taking up drought relief and the share of the State government in providing relief to the farmers in distress.
Mr. Patil charged the officials of the agriculture and revenue departments of providing misleading information about the fodder situation and distress sale of cattle.
He said that fodder was not available for the farmers fodder banks and the distress sale of the cattle has already begun in the district, with the farmers selling their healthy cattle to the slaughter houses in the neighbouring States due to the non-availability of fodder and drinking water.
Mr. Patil wanted the government to waive off the school fee of all the children of the farmers as well as their electricity bills this year.
Kedarlingaiah Hiremath said that the government should reschedule the crop loans availed by farmers and the interest of the crop loan should be waived off taking into consideration the prevailing situation.
