Moved by the alarming increasing in farmer suicides in Karnataka, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has planned to launch a state-wide campaign to infuse self-confidence among the farmers in distress so as to prevent them from taking extreme step.
Addressing a media conference at Reporters’ Guild here on Friday, KRRS State president Mr. Chamarasa Malipatil announced that the state executive committee of his organisation would finalise the campaign details at its meeting scheduled to be held at Hubballi on Saturday.
“Farmers in distress have lost faith in both Union and State Governments which are anti-farmer in essence. Instead of taking proactive measures to safeguard the interests of farmers, these Governments are further cornering the farming community. With no hopes at sight, the farmers in distress are committing suicides. While continuing our uncompromised street-struggles against the Governments' anti-farmers polices, we would shortly launch a campaign for infusing confidence among,” he said.
The possibilities of involving renowned public figures such as famous social activists, progressive intellectual’s religious leaders and cine stars in the campaign would also be explored, he added.
Mr. Malipatil appealed the people from all walks of life to join hands in the efforts to boost the morale of farmers’ in distress. “These are the people who fed the nation and nation as a whole has to feel the pain of the farmers. I appeal people from all walks of life to stand up in support of farmers and boost their self-confidence,” he said.
Mr. Malipatil demanded to constitute a committee with agricultural scientists, psychologists, agricultural economists and farmers’ representatives as its members for studying of farm crisis in-depth and finding lasting solutions to it.
Release water
Pointing at the failure of monsoon this year, Mr. Malipatil demanded Irrigation Consultative Committees of Tungabhadra and Krishna to immediately release water to Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal (TLBC) and Narayanpur Right Bank Canal (NRBC) for facilitating sowing of cotton and chilli at the canals' tail-end areas.
“The dry-land farmers with no irrigation facilities will anyway have to bear the brunt of deficit monsoon. If the waters are released to TLBC and NRBC from their respective reservoirs, the farmers at the tail-end of these canals can cultivate cotton, chilli and other crops that do not require much water,” he said.
Farmers’ leaders Mr. Amaranna Gudihal, Mr. Lakshmangowda Kadagamdoddi and others were present.
