BENGALURU: Will Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement of an enhanced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs for the kin of farmers who committed suicide prove counter-productive and result in more cases of self harm?
The Chief Minister’s announcement has been criticized by agricultural scientists and farmers alike.
Dr G K Veeresh, former vice chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, who headed a committee to study farmers’ suicide in 2002, fears that such an announcement could trigger more suicides in Karnataka because of higher ex-gratia amount. “I had strongly opposed (such a move) when the government decided to give Rs 1 lakh as relief to kin of farmers who committed suicide, but the present government has hiked the amount to Rs five lakhs. By doing this, the government is indirectly encouraging more number of farmers to end their lives so that their families live happily after their death,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
He said from the beginning, he had been advocating creation of a separate department for farmers' welfare, headed by the Chief Minister. The main task of that department should be to remove hurdles in agricultural sector, and make available all inputs to farmers without any problems. At present, benefits were reaching farmers very late because they were being handled by 16-18 departments. Instead of working out a permanent solution, offering higher ex-gratia would not help solve the problem. What farmers are demanding is not money to families of dead growers but novel programmes which would give a boost to agricultural sector. "In my view, hiking compensation looks like a political announcement to avoid wrath of opposition parties," he added.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Sugar Cane Growers Association president Kurubur Shanthakumar said the hike in ex-gratia amount would not help check farmers' suicide as more than 520 farmers have ended their lives since April 2015. The CM, without understanding the ground reality, was trying to fool farmers by offering enhanced ex-gratia. It would have been better if the government offered jobs to children of dead farmers in government departments or corporations or directed co-operative banks to issue fresh farm loans without demanding surety.
Mr Siddaramaiah had announced Rs 5 lakh relief only to impress Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. "It may be good news for families of 518 families but what about those who are in trouble due to wrong policies of the state and union governments?" he asked.
On his part, Karnataka state farmers association president K S Puttanaiah, MLA, said it was not a healthy trend to hike the ex-gratia amount. The government must not weigh farmers’ life in terms of money.
Of late, it has become fashion for political parties to announce relief for farmers to gain mileage. The need of the hour is to constitute a committee comprising agriculture scientists, psychiatrists and policy makers to find reasons for farmers' suicide. "According to me dejection in life due to agriculture slowly becoming a non-profitable venture is the main reason for steep increase in farmers' suicide and not due to debt. Unable to face insult in society and home, farmers are committing suicide", he observed.
