Belagavi
President of the Sugarcane Growers Association Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, stated that if the state government’s policy of doing injustice to the farmers continues, a siege will be laid on the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) during the Belagavi session.
Kodihalli told media persons at Kannada Sahitya Bhavan that in 2023 there was drought in Karnataka. At that time, the government requested immediate assistance under the National Calamity Grant, as there was an estimated crop loss of Rs 12.3 lakh crore. After the drought ended, the central government released only Rs 430 crore rupees. In addition to this, by adding Rs 150 crore, the state government allocated Rs 680 crore to the farmers. However, it delayed the distribution of crop damage compensation to farmers. He demanded that the state government to change its attitude and distribute decent compensation to the farmers.
The Government of India has fixed a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane, but the state government has not implemented the FRP rate to date. Some sugar mills are operating without paying dues to the farmers and these dues should be paid soon. Sugar mills should announce FRP rates based on sugar yield and the government should support the farmers. If the farmers’ problems are not resolved within the winter session, a siege will be laid on SVS, he warned.
He alleged that regional parties in South India are influencing the Centre for political gain and doing injustice to the states, resulting in injustice to farmers. Farmers’ leader Raju Marave was present.
