BJP to set uplans ’raitha praharis’ to help farmers

BJP to set uplans ’raitha praharis’ to help farmers

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 21, 2016: BJP,  Bharatiya Janata Party, Kisan Morcha state unit members Udupi have decided to set up ’raitha praharis’ system at every village-level, to get closer to farmers and help redress their grievances.   Announcing this, state vice-president of the Morcha and former MLC Shanthaveerappa Gowda said, "The ’raitha praharis’ will act as links between the Morcha and the farmers by bringing the problems faced by the agrarian community at ground-level to state executive of the party."

The concept that was introduced when former MLA Araga Jnanedra was heading the Morcha could not be realised in truth, said Gowda, adding, "The Morcha has, in every district, already nominated two farmers each to the state executive for effective functioning of the Morcha."

Praising PM Narendra Modi and crediting him for introducing 45 programmes in the last two years of his rule, Gowda blamed the state government for not coming to the rescue of paddy growers. He also suggested that the government should adopt the Kerala model, where paddy growers are encouraged with subsidy.

Accusing the state of practising step-motherly attitude, Gowda said that, while the coconut growers in many parts of the state continue to incur losses due to price crash, the growers in Udupi district are getting minimum support price. "In Tumakuru, although most of the farmers depend on copra, they are also deprived of minimum support price. Arecanut needs minimum support price of at least Rs 40,000 per quintal," he demanded.

Gowda said, the state Morcha has also thanked the prime minister for introducing many farmers welfare programmes like Pradhan Mantri Phasal Bima Yojana and soil health card to start with.