Distributes relief money, announces panel on agri sector woes

Mysuru/Mandya, Jul 20 (DHNS): It was the turn of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday to visit the families of farmers who had committed suicide in the last few days to offer solace.

He visited the house of deceased farmer Mahadevanayaka at Hura in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district and handed over a compensation of Rs 1 lakh in cash on behalf of the Congress party. Siddaramaiah consoled the wife and children of Mahadevanayaka. He assured them of other benefits under various departments and directed the officials concerned to look into the issue. Lok Sabha member R Dhruvanarayana, ministers V Sreenivas Prasad, H S Mahadeva Prasad and CADA chairman C Dasegowda accompanied him.

In the neighbouring Siddegowdanahundi village, the chief minister handed over a cheque for Rs 2 lakh on behalf of the State government as compensation to the family of farmer Shivalingegowda.

Holding private money lenders responsible for most instances of farmer suicides in the region, Siddaramaiah said stern action will be taken against them.

The chief minister said that he had already appealed to the farmers not to take the extreme step. “ The deputy commissioner has been directed to form panels at the hobli levels to address grievances of the farmers,” he said. Siddaramaiah also called on the next of kin of farmer Shivalingegowda at Honnanayakanahalli in Mandya taluk and offered condolences. He told reporters that a committee headed by M S Swaminathan would be formed to study the problems facing the agriculture sector. Another team of officials has been formed to study the causes of farmers’ suicides, the chief minister said.

He said there was no question of the government taking the responsibility for farmers ending their lives, but it was taking the necessary steps.

The chief minister said that co-operative societies had been directed not to recover loans extended to farmers, while nationalised banks had been directed not to issue notices to such farmers.

Siddaramaiah said steps had been taken to reopen the Mysugar factory.

Housing Minister Ambareesh’s disgruntlement over not being consulted over the appointment of a director to apex bank was apparent as the minister was neither seen when the chief minister and others addressed reporters nor did he go inside the house of farmer Rajendra with them, at Chinnenahalli in Srirangapatna taluk.

Some people raised slogans against the chief minister at Mallegowdanakoppal, en route to Chinnenahalli.

Siddu turns tables on Krishna

Siddaramaiah turned the tables on former chief minister S M Krishna, who had, on Friday, said that the recommendations of the Veeresh committee on farmer suicides had not been implemented by governments that came to power after his tenure.

He said that the report was submitted in 2002, when Krishna was the chief minister. The report could not be implemented as there was opposition to it by farmers themselves. Siddaramaiah said that the former chief minister may have forgotten this fact.