1161 ryots end life in K'taka; 728 families yet to get compensation

Belgaum, Sep 26 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council H K Patil today alleged on the floor of the House that 1,161 farmers had committed suicide from April 2003 to August 20, 2006, and the families of 728 of them were yet to get compensation.

Initiating a discussion on taking up drought and flood relief works in the State, he urged the Government to take serious measures to help the farmers. Over five lakh peasants have migrated to neighbouring states, seeking employment, following the prevailing drought conditions in certain districts.

Mr Patil wanted the Government to generate employment opportunities for the migrating ryots and provide education to their children whose education was being affected due to migration.

He said the government could have taken steps such as cloud seeding to ease the drought condition in these scanty rainfall receiving areas. Though the initiative could not give the expected results last year, it helped certain areas to get rains.

Intervening in the discussion, State Panchayati Raj Minister C M Udasi said a decision would be taken at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow to raise the present minimum wages of agricultural labourers up to Rs 80. There were 1,58,000 registered labourers in five districts and work had been provided to 10700 people.

He said the Government did not encourage weather insurance in the State for farmers as the premium amount was high.

State Sugar Minister Govind Karjol said the Government had released Rs 85 crore towards flood relief and Rs 36 crore for drought relief.

As the discussion remained inconclusive, the Council was adjourned till tomorrow.

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