Karnataka: Drought List Sparks Protests As North Karnataka Seeks Wider Coverage

The discontent is particularly sharp in districts where either only a few taluks have been included or, as in Kalaburagi, Dharwad and Haveri, the entire district has been left out of the first list. Farmers in adjoining taluks are also questioning the logic of including one area while leaving out another facing similar conditions.

The protests are no longer confined to memorandums. Bandhs, road blockades, human chains and padayatras are held or are being planned in different parts of the region. Farmers and local organisations are also putting pressure on elected representatives, arguing that inclusion in the drought list is crucial for accessing compensation, employment and other relief measures.

The concern is heightened by the rainfall situation in some of the districts that have been left out. Haveri and Kalaburagi have recorded a 44 per cent rainfall deficit, while Dharwad has recorded a 40 per cent deficit as on August 31.

The exclusion has also become a political issue for the Congress, particularly in Haveri and Kalaburagi, where the ruling party has considerable representation. All six Assembly constituencies in Haveri district are represented by Congress MLAs, while Kalaburagi has three ministers — Priyank Kharge, Sharan Prakash Patil and Ajay Dharam Singh.

Kalaburagi's grievance

In Kalaburagi the demand is for the entire district to be recognised as drought-hit.

Farmer organisations have demanded the government to immediately declare the entire district as drought affected.

“We have three ministers from our district. But what is the use? We want the government to declare Kalaburagi as a drought-affected district,” Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha district president Sharanabasappa Mamashetti told Deccan Chronicle.

Kalaburagi, popularly known as Togari Nadu for its extensive tur dal cultivation, has seen serious agricultural distress this season, Mamashetti said.

“We want the government to declare the district drought-hit and provide Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation. A special package of Rs 1,000 crore should be given to the district as it is a major tur-growing region. The Centre should waive agricultural loans and crop insurance should be provided properly,” he demanded.

According to Mamashetti, the absence of adequate rain in June affected several crops, including urad, green gram, soybean and sesame.

“Mixed crops are grown in Kalaburagi. As there was no rain in June, urad, hesaru, soybean and sesame crops were affected. In Chincholi, Kalagi and parts of Kamalapur, Sedam and Chittapur, there was some rain and green gram was cultivated, but the crop was later damaged by disease,” he said.

In Jewargi, Afzalpur, Aland, Kalaburagi, Yedrami and Shabad, the situation was more severe, with farmers unable to take up sowing in many areas, he said.

He also questioned the government's handling of crop insurance and the manner in which the drought assessment had been carried out.

“When the 101 taluks were declared, Kalaburagi district faced a stepmotherly attitude. There has been a similar attitude towards people seeking crop insurance. During the recent Assembly session, no party spoke seriously about drought, depleting water bodies or the lack of fodder for cattle. They were busy attacking each other,” he said.

BJP leader Shivaraj Patil Raddewadi has announced an NH blockade and protest on September 3 over the exclusion of the district from the list. BJP leader Dharmanna Itaga has gone a step further, demanding the resignation of all three ministers from the district.

Gadag joins the protest

The issue has taken a different form in Gadag, where farmers, students and women came together on Monday under the banner of the Gen Z Voters and Citizens Forum, demanding that all taluks in the district be declared drought-hit and that basic infrastructure be given priority. Only one Taluk- Gajendragad has been identified as drought hit in the district.

The protesters began their agitation at Kittur Chennamma Circle and garlanded the statue of Kittur Chennamma before taking out a procession. They later blocked roads at Mulgund Naka and Court Circle and formed a human chain.

Forum leader Anil Menasinakai alleged that the severity of the drought had not been properly brought to the government's notice.

“Officials have failed to make the government understand the seriousness of the drought situation. Public representatives have not visited the fields to see what farmers are facing,” he said.

Menasinakai said the Gen Z group was prepared to take up a larger movement for the overall development of the district.

The protest also highlighted the fact that only one taluk in the district has been declared drought-hit. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene district president Shankargouda Jayanagoudra said protesters would display black flags when Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visits the district on Tuesday.

The farmers have given the state government eight days to declare the district drought-hit. If no decision is taken, Jayanagoudra said, an indefinite dharna would be held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.

The demands include a waiver of agricultural loans in all banks, setting up fodder banks and cattle shelters, employment guarantees and compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre.

“If the elected representatives cannot get the demands of farmers fulfilled, they should resign from their posts,” Jayanagoudra said.

More areas seek inclusion

The pressure is also building in Dharwad district. BJP leader Shankar Patil Munenakoppa has demanded that Navalgund, Annigeri and Hubballi taluks be included in the drought-hit list. He said an agitation would be launched if the government failed to take a decision by September 8.

He has sought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre, drought relief works and employment for people affected by the situation.

In Vijayanagara district, residents of Kudligi observed a town bandh on Monday demanding that the taluk be declared drought-hit. Farmers in Ballari's Siruguppa have announced a major protest over its exclusion, while similar demands have come from Manvi, Sirwar (Bidar), Kamalnagar, Bhalki (Bidar) Sindagi (Vijayapura), Kotturu and Kudligi (Vijayanagara).

Government says assessment is not over

The government, however, says the first list is not the end of the exercise.

Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil said drought-hit taluks were being identified using scientific criteria and in accordance with the NDRF and SDRF guidelines.

He said the second phase of the ground-truthing process was under way and that more taluks could be added based on the findings.

Pressure builds for second list

For farmers, however, the question is how quickly that second assessment will translate into action. With sowing and crop losses already being reported from several areas, they fear that waiting for another round of assessment could delay the relief they say they urgently need.

Across North Karnataka, the first drought list has therefore become less a final assessment and more the starting point of a fresh political and farmers' campaign — one that is likely to intensify as more excluded taluks press for recognition.