Bengaluru: In a swift move, the state JD(S) has set up a 24X7 helpline and a corpus fund to help farmers in distress, to check the ongoing series of farmer suicides. Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, JD(S) State President Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy appealed to farmers in the state not to take the extreme step of killing themselves and asked them to call the helpline before they decide to leave their family members orphaned.
“We have three lines, which will be open round the clock. I may not be able to reach each and every one in person. However, we have made an arrangement wherein local leaders visit farmers and address their problems,'' he said.
Assuring farmers that good days would soon arrive, Mr Kumaraswamy said that the present government has 2-3 years of its tenure left. “I promise farmers that they will get back their land from lenders once a new government is in place,'' he said.
Meanwhile, the JD(S) has formed a corpus fund to give compensation to family members of the deceased farmers. All JD(S) legislators from both the Assembly and Council have decided to contribute their one month’s salary and allowance to the corpus fund. With 52 legislators, the party would be raising over Rs 75 lakh for the corpus.
“I appeal to the government to waive off all farmer loans to boost their morale. The government should also initiate action against private financiers, who are charging exorbitant interest on the loans availed by farmers,'' he said.
Stating that there was no politics in his padayatra from Dharwad to Hubli, Mr Kumaraswamy said that it was meant to instill courage among farmers. At the moment, nationalised banks themselves have got farmers' gold and other valuables as surety and lent over Rs 315 crore. Besides, only 63 lakh farmers have become members of cooperative sector institutions of which, only 21 lakh people have availed financial assistance. If one see the statements made by KPCC President Dr G Parameshwar and Chief Minister Mr Siddaramaiah, it shows that they do not care for farmers, he said.
Mr Kumaraswamy has decided to tour some of the districts, where farmer suicides are rampant. During the weekend, he will be visiting Chamarajnagar, Mysuru, Mandya, Ramanagar and Bengaluru Rural districts and visit the houses of farmers, who have committed suicide. Later he would be visiting five districts in North Karnataka.
