Farmers suicide: Pay compensation without delay, says Gowda

Bangalore, May 23 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) National President H D Deve Gowda today urged Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to take immediate steps to distribute compensation to the families of farmers who had committed suicide, unable to repay loans due to the drought period from 2000 to 2004 in the state.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, a copy of which was released to the press here, he said hundreds of farmers had committed suicide during the period. During the previous Congress-led coalition rule alone more than 300 farmers had committed suicide.

Though the Dharam Singh government had appointed a Committee to study the reasons behind the spate of suicides and find genuine cases for payment of compensation, the study could not be completed due to various reasons, he added.

Mr Gowda suggested that the compensation amount could be kept in Fixed Deposit in the name of the next of kin of the deceased.

Besides, the government could clear the dues of those farmers who had committed suicide due to shock after receiving notice from financial institutions calling for public auctioning of land or property pledged.

He said the government should direct all the District Deputy Commissioners to provide all the details and take steps to distribute compensation without further delay.

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