Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sagha has condemned sugar factories for not making payments to farmers for the cane supplied since 2013-14, in spite of the directive from the High Court.
The sangha urged the government to pay arrears of Rs. 4,200 crore to sugarcane growers and later recover the same from sugar factories. Cane growers were in a pathetic condition as sugar factories had not paid them arrears for many years now, the sangha said.
K.S. Puttannaiah, MLA and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader and members Badagalapura Nagendrappa and Hoskote Basavaraj said that the government should have initiated action against the sugar factories, especially after incidences of cane growers committing suicide were reported. The Karnataka High Court upheld the Karnataka Sugarcane (Purchase and Supply Control) Act, 2013, and said that the government has powers to fix sugarcane prices.
The government fixed sugarcane price at Rs. 2,500 per tonne during the 2013-14 seasons. Except issuing notices to sugar factories post the High Court verdict, the government had not taken any stern measures, Mr. Puttannaiah said. The sangha has decided to stage a dharna in Bengaluru on June 12, demanding the State government prevail upon sugar factories to pay arrears to cane growers or else pay the arrears from the State treasury.
The sangha alleged that students from rural places were not given seats in private schools in Mysuru city, and that there had been an inordinate delay in transferring land records in Mysuru district. It has decided to stage a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding 20 per cent reservation of seats to students from villages in private schools, and streamlining of the land transfer process.
Sugarcane price fixed at Rs. 2,500 per tonne during 2013-14 season
Raitha sangha urges State govt. to pay arrears of Rs. 4,200 crore to cane growers
