Kumaraswamy consols widow of deceased sugarcane farmer

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

Farid had committed suicide as he was unable to sell his produce days after harvesting it. Over 20 sugarcane farmers have committed suicide during the last three months in the districts of Bijapur, Bidar and Gulbarga.

About two thousand villagers accorded a warm welcome to Chief Minister. Mr Kumaraswamy arrived at the village past midnight even as a large group of women welcomed him in traditional manner at the entrance of the village.

Hankuni, an obscure village, located about 10 km from Humnbad.

About two weeks ago Farid ended his life in a gory manner by setting himself on ablaze after pouring kerosene on his body no one was none of the sugar factories were ready to buy sugercane crop.

Even as the sole bread winner ended his life, the family plunged in darkness. 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 don't 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 east your sufferings. Look at entrepreneurs who borrow crores of rupees but never take the extreme step even if they incur losses but 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.

Farid's widow said, "The chief minister stepping into my house brought back the luster. We are happy. Now I can forget my pains at least for the time being," she said.

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