Though more than 75% of the population in the country is into farming and the entire economy is dependent on agriculture, elected representatives and successive governments have failed to ensure their safety and make sustained efforts for bringing equality among all people, journalist P. Sainath has said.
Speaking after receiving the prestigious Basavashree Award for 2016 at Bruhan Mutt here on Monday, he said that a total of 3.5 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the country since Independence. In Karnataka alone, more than 40,000 farmers have committed suicide and successive governments have done very little to ensure that farmers are provided scientific prices for agricultural produce and proper facilities to help them to take up activities systematically.
Though farmers’ financial, social and educational conditions are deteriorating every year, the financial position of elected representatives is getting better every year. In 2004, the number of ‘crorepathis’ contesting in the elections was very low compared to the 2014 elections. This clearly indicates why the condition of farmers is deteriorating in the country. So sustained efforts should be made to ensure equality among people of all classes and categories in the country, he added.
Shri Shivamurthy Muruga Sharana of Bruhan Mutt said that Mr. Sainath has been striving for the betterment of farmers in the country for several decades and has also been encouraging thousands of journalists across the world. Keeping in view his outstanding services the Bruhan Mutt honoured him with the Basavashree Award. The award carries certificate, a memento and a purse of ₹5 lakh, he added.
H. Anjaneya, Minister for Social Welfare and district in-charge; G.H. Thippareddy, MLA; G.N. Mallikarjunappa and E. Chitrashekhar, executive directors of Bruhan Mutt; and H. Hanumantappa, former MP, were present.
