Bengaluru: Opposing the idea of increase in compensation to the families of farmers who have committed suicide, Congress leader V S Ugrappa explained that it would only encourage suicide.
As a solution to this problem he said, “A solatium amount should be deposited in the banks in the name of the family members of farmers who committed suicides and the interest earned on it should be credited to them”.

Answering questions raised by the opposition he said, “While farmers in some districts are blessed with plentiful supply of water for irrigation and cultivate several crops in a year, farmers in some other districts are deprived of water even for raising a single crop. This kind of discrimination should be removed.”

When compared to other farmers, sugarcane growers are better off and the cost of input is relatively smaller for their crop, he said. The present situation of sugarcane farmers is due to the Centre’s policy on the sugar industry. He directly blamed present BJP government at the Centre, whose policies have had an equal share in the recent farmer deaths, he said.

Speaking on this issue, House leader S R Patil said, “A slide in sugar prices globally has put the industries in a crisis. No financial institution is coming forward to extend loan to sugar mills, fearing that they will end up with bad debts”, he said, adding that this is something that needs to be looked into.