Kumaraswamy consoles widow of sugarcane farmer

Bidar, Karnataka, May 23 (UNI) In a bid to boost the sagging morale of farmers of North Karnataka, who are in distress due to a glut in sugarcane production, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stayed overnight at the house of Sheik Farid, who had committed suicide two weeks ago, at Hankuni village in this district last night.

Farid had committed suicide by setting himself ablaze as he was unable to sell his produce days after harvesting it, with none of the sugar factories ready to buy sugarcane. Over 20 sugarcane farmers have committed suicide during the last three months in the districts of Bijapur, Bidar and Gulbarga.

About 2,000 villagers accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Minister. Though Mr Kumaraswamy arrived at the village well past midnight, a large group of women welcomed him in the traditional manner at the entrance of the obscure village.

In an effort to infuse confidence among the farmers in distress, the Chief Minister spoke to a large group of villagers from the surrounding places for hours.

''Please do not take the extreme step as the State Government is committed to come to your rescue. I am pained at your plight and will do my best to ease your sufferings. Look at entrepreneurs who borrow crores of Rupees, but they never end their life even if they incur losses. They try to make good their losses later. Why should you do so for taking paltry Rs 20,000 or Rs 30,000 loan,'' he asked.

With the sole bread winner choosing to end his life, Farid's family had no one to look up to. Farid's widow said ''the Chief Minister stepping into my house brought back the lustre. We are happy. Now, I can forget my pains at least for the time being.'' MORE UNI