The hike in compensation to family members of farmers who ended lives will be applicable only in case of suicides reported after April 1, 2015. An order on the cut-off date is expected shortly.
After the inauguration of the Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hills, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the same date is applicable for free education to children of deceased farmers (up to postgraduation) and comprehensive health insurance.
The government recently enhanced the relief amount from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh after the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
The Chief Minister said 596 farmers committed suicide in the State since April this year. The highest number of suicides was reported in July and August, when about 400 farmers ended their lives. In September, about 100 farmers committed suicide.
“The number declined this month and I wish this alarming trend comes to a full stop,” he said. Mr. Siddaramaiah added that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab too had reported suicides.
In 2013–14, 58 farmers committed suicide and about 48 in 2014-15 in the State. The tendency of farmers’ suicide went up only this year but suicide is not a solution to their problem, he said.
Hitting out at the NDA government, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Centre had not responded to its request made on August 24 for releasing Rs. 3,850 crore to carry out drought relief works.
Crops worth Rs. 16,000 crore had suffered loss due to drought in the State, he said, adding that the Centre had been once again requested to at least release Rs. 500 crore immediately.
Mr. Siddaramaiah challenged the Centre to waive at least half of Rs. 29,000 crore crop loan in nationalised banks. “I’ll consider waiving 50 per cent of the crop loans taken by farmers in cooperative banks.”
