SM Krishna steals Mandya’s heart, shows CM Siddaramaiah the way
Bengaluru: In a long overdue gesture that gave hundreds of despondent sugar and silk farmers in the once verdant expanse of Mandya and its surrounding areas a small ray of hope, former external affairs minister and a native of the district, S.M. Krishna offered his heartfelt support to the families of the bereaved.
As the number of farmers’ suicides in the state climbed to an alarming 107 on Friday – all in a space of four months – Mr Krishna showed the way by personally visiting the families of farmers who committed suicide in Mandya district.
“Every family whom I visited had a heart-rending story to tell, and as they spoke out about their problems with every one from the village listening in, I felt sad and miserable,” Mr Krishna told Deccan Chronicle, whom he commended for its reportage on the plight of the farmers across the state.
Mr Krishna criss-crossed his home district on Friday, reaching out to the families of farmers who committed suicide in the villages of Arechaakanalli, Saadolalu, Maadappana koplu, Honnanaykana halli, Kanakanahalli, Chinnenahalli and Gaanada Hosur. He said he had “given Rs 50,000 to each family to help them overcome the burden of their loans.”
Deeply saddened by the misery of farmers as he heard the kin of the victim and almost moved to tears, he promised to forward their petitions to Mr Siddaramaiah.
“I saw the despondency among those in the farming community. The situation is very distressing. I think the Chief Minister and all ministers must go to districts where farmers have committed suicide and restore confidence among farmers,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
One suggestion he offered to the government was to waive loans of farmers for a year. “Sugar factories are not picking up sugarcane for crushing, so farmers don’t know what to do with their crops.
“Those who support the silk industry are also in distress because the prices of raw materials have collapsed,” he added.
Mr Krishna said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Siddaramaiah about the distress situation and request them to evolve a solution to problems faced by farmers.
