K'taka likely to announce more sops to curb farmers' suicide

Bangalore, June 14 (UNI) Appealing to the farming community not to resort to suicide, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today assured more sops to the agriculture community to boost their confidence.

Participating in a day-long interactive meeting with farmers, political leaders and agricultural experts here, he expressed concern over the continued suicide trend by farmers, despite waiving off over Rs 2,500 crore farm loan taken from the cooperative sector.

Referring to his earlier statement that he would demit office owning moral responsibility on the farmers' suicide issue, he said ''he would quit today if the participating farmers demand so.'' Mr Kumaraswamy said though the State Government had taken a historical decision to waive off farm loans, but it seemed the benefit had not reached all. The loan waiver scheme was not closed and after fresh efforts to generate more resources, another round of farm-loan waiver scheme would be considered.

Referring to the acquisition of encroached Government land, he said the State would not dispose it off at throw-away price and in such cases the entire auction process would be cancelled. The Government had decided to utilise a portion of recovered encroached land for housing purposes and brushed aside the demand of the Opposition parties to reserve it for public use. ''I have an apprehension that if the next Government comes, the recovered encroached land will be returned to land grabbers,'' he added.

Referring to his village stay programme, Mr Kumaraswamy said it had helped to sensitise the officials about the problems of the people living in rural areas and the programme would continue.

He announced that he would convene another meeting of farmers representatives shortly and discuss the issues raised today.

UNI