Janata Dal (Secular) has planned to offer Rs. 50,000 to families of those farmers who committed suicide in Raichur district this year. Addressing a media conference at the Reporters Guild here on Wednesday, party leader Virupakshi said that the money would be given at a farmers conference in Sindhanur, Raichur district, on Thursday.
“As of now, 33 farmers have committed suicide in the district this year. However, the government has paid compensation to the families of only nine such diseased farmers. The claims of eight families have been rejected on various grounds. Another 11 claims are being processed. We will give Rs. 50,000 each to the 33 families,” he said.
Janata Dal(S) State unit president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy would hand over the cheque to the families at the farmers conference, he added.
Raichur city MLA Shivaraj Patil said that the party would not ask the families for any documents for ascertaining whether the farmers committed suicide due to debts. “The government pays compensation only after verification of the suicide through forensics report. It also sees whether the deceased person owned land. Compensation has been denied in many genuine cases, as the families failed to submit supporting documents. We will, however, provide financial assistance to all such families without asking for any records,” he said.
To a question, Mr. Patil said that his party would field its candidate in the byelection to the Deodurg Assembly constituency that has become vacant with the death of MLA A. Venkatesh Naik in a rail accident.
“The process of selecting a suitable candidate is on. Our party national president would camp in the constituency to ensure the victory of the party candidate,” he said.
Party leaders N. Shivashankar, Danappa Yadav and Vishwanath Patil were present.
