Opposition stages walkout on farmers' suicides

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 18 (UNI) The Congress-led Opposition staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly today, alleging that the government had ''failed'' to tackle the crisis in the farm sector and provide relief to the families of farmers who have committed suicide due to mounting debts.

Notice for an adjournment motion sought to be moved by Mr K M Mani of the Kerala Congress (M) in this regard was disallowed by Speaker K Radhakrishnan.

Replying to the notice, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said crisis in the farm sector was the result of globalisation and unrestricted import of farm produce.

They said relief packages announced by the Centre would not solve the problem and what was needed was restriction in the import of farm produce by imposing heavy import duties.

The Chief Minister said assistance had been given to the families of 549 farmers who have committed suicide and District Collectors had been asked to furnish the actual number of farmers' suicides in the context of conflicting reports on the figures.

Mr Achuthanandan said a Commission had been set up to go into the causes of farmers' suicides and to recommend preventive measures. Another Commission would look into the farmers' debts and seek the possibility of loan waiver.

Agreeing to the Opposition demand, he announced a one-year moratorium on all farm loans and promised action against officials, who initiated recovery proceedings against farmers violating the government's directives.

Leading the walkout, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy wanted immediate measures to restore self-confidence among the farming community, implementation of debt relief measures in a time bound manner, facilities to provide farm loans at four per cent interest, effective implementation of crop insurance and measures for price stabilisation for all farm produce.

Earlier, Mr K M Mani urged the government to write off all small loans taken by the farmers and to reduce interest on all farm loans.

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