State government has cheated tobacco growers, alleges MLA U. T. Khader

State government has cheated tobacco growers, alleges MLA U. T. Khader

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 29, 2012: Addressing the press in the District Congress office on Thursday, MLA U. T. Khader alleged that CM Sadananda Gowda has cheated DK tobacco growers by not giving them the compensation package he had promised them. 

Speaking about the woes of tobacco growers, he said that they had incurred heavy financial losses in the tobacco season of 2011 – 12 because their crops were affected by fruit rot disease. When the CM visited them in Puttur, he had promised them a compensation package, he added.

Further he said that the state government had asked tobacco growers to submit applications for compensation and that the district administration submitted a report regarding the losses they had incurred and appealed to the government to sanction Rs. 1.75 crore as compensation for the tobacco growers. Although the CM promised that he would sanction the package, he has failed to mention it in the state budget, said Mr. Khader.  

The MLA also said that he had raised this issue in assembly on Wednesday and the chief minister had responded that an all-party delegation will be sent to the central government to discuss the issue. He demanded to know what the state government is for if the center has to do everything. He also questioned the state government’s move of inviting tobacco growers to submit applications for compensation, each of which cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 300. 

Stating that tobacco growers are struggling to repay their loans, he demanded to know if the state government cannot stop bank and cooperative society representatives from harassing them.