Farmers demand complete waiver of bank loans

Farmers demand complete waiver of bank loans

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 6, 2011: Kodihalli Chandrashekar, the president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, said that arecanut growers have burned all the bank notices issued to them owing to their inability to pay their debts and have declared themselves free of debt. He as addressing a large group of 200 protesting arecanut farmers who had gathered in front of the DC’s office on April 7, Thursday.

 

Mr. Chandrashekar also declared that loan sharks and banks must deal directly with the government and stop harassing arecanut farmers because it was the government that is responsible for the farmers’ inability to repay their loans. He also said that it is not the farmers’ fault that unscientific input cost calculation, unjust remuneration, and successive governments’ pro-corporate policies have made it impossible for them to repay their debts. The government, and not the farmers, should repay these loans, he stated strongly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He further said that the union government made things difficult for silk farmers by scrapping import duties on silk; and now it has made arecanut prices plummet from Rs. 16k to Rs. 10k. He said that, although the government’s estimation of the input cost of growing two acres of paddy was Rs. 1 lakh, his estimation was over double that of the government’s estimation. The farmers, who were listening to him, said that his estimation was the correct one.

Warning bank officials against illegally seizing farmers’ property, he cited a Karnataka State High Court order of 1981 and said that the farmers will not hesitate to reclaim any asset seized by the officials. He also dared banks to publish lists of farmers’ names and photographs and seize and auction off their property.

Demanding a complete waiver of all loans given to farmers, he said that arecanut growers whose crops have been affected by yellow leaf disease should be given rehabilitation package. He also demanded scientific remuneration for all losses associated with food crops.

Urging CM B. S. Yeddyurappa to take immediate decisions, he warned that farmers and their associations will take decisions if the government fails to do so. He said that both the central and state governments had chosen to ignore farmers when they tried to bring their attention to the farmers’ problems. Attacking MPs and MLAs, he said that they must be ashamed to make empty promises to farmers in public. He also pointed that several companies are acquiring agricultural land in the name of development and the farmers are forced to give up their livelihood.

He further stated that the posts of taluk panchayat tahsildar and district magistrate must be cancelled because they are hardly doing anything to provide justice to the farmers. They should be called head clerk instead, he added sarcastically.

Urging the district administration and various ministries not to forget that they owe a lot to farmers, he warned the CM not to force the farmers to become violent in their fight for justice. Although the DC’s office staff make birth and death records, they are blind to the sight of people dying everyday because of the irresponsible district magistrate, he said.

Expressing that the Raitha Sangha will support Anna Hazare, who is now on indefinite hunger strike in Delhi, he said that the association is willing to visit Delhi in large numbers to render their support. He said that the association plans to organize a movement in Udupi to enhance awareness in the state government about the Sangha and its activities. Labeling the UPCL as a “bad project in Udupi,” he said that it must be closed down immediately.

Dhanakeerthi Balipa C., the vice president of the Karnatka Rajya Raitha Sangha; Vijayakumar Hegde, the district president; Ravi Kiran, the working president; Manjunath Gowda, the state secretary; and Shrinivas Achar, a member, also delivered protest speeches on the occasion.

The association then submitted a memorandum to Additional DC Prabhakar Sharma, demanding immediate cessation of grabbing farmers’ land and assets under the name of “loan recovery.”  Mr. Sharma said that the DC is away on land examination duty and will get back late. He assured the farmers that he will discuss the matter with the DC as soon as he returns and will convene a farmers’ meeting soon. He also said that he will attempt to solve the problem of the co-operative society land auction.