Hubballi: Forty-two year old Manjappa Belagavi, a farmer of Kanavisiddigeri village in Haveri district, tried to end his life Wednesday night after his tractor was confiscated by the staff of a private bank for defaulting on repayment of a loan, triggering a demand by farmers’ leaders for waiver of interest on farm loans by the state government.
Officers of the state government, farmers’ leaders and politicians rushed to the district hospital at Haveri to enquire about his health when they heard how a depressed Manjappa consumed pesticides at the place where his tractor was parked by the bank.
He took the extreme step after repeated requests for release of his tractor were turned down by the bank. Manjappa’s attempt to end his life has brought to light the plight of farmers in north Karnataka, with at least three farmers committing suicide in Haveri district because they were unable to repay their loans.
“My husband had purchased a tractor after borrowing Rs 6.7 lakhs for our three-acre farm. The bank staff has seized the tractor without even serving a notice. The loss of cotton and maize crops due to excess rainfall resulted in a delay in payment of the fifth loan installment of Rs 62,500. My husband has consumed poison as he felt distressed ever since the tractor was seized 15 days ago,” rued his wife Lata Belagavi.
Meanwhile, farmers’ leaders have lodged a complaint in Haveri town police station and threatened to launch an agitation if the bank rails to return the tractor to Manjappa. “The government should pay compensation to these farmers and their interest on loans should be waived. We will launch a state-wide protest to stop harassment of defaulting farmers who belong to rain-affected regions,” farmers’ leader Shivaputhrappa Malladad told Deccan Chronicle.
Assistant commissioner Shivaraj said a meeting with the staff of all banks and finance companies would be held to advise the staff to adopt a humanitarian approach while recovering loans from farmers.
