Newskarnataka – Mangalore

Mangalore : The DK District units of  Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and  Hasiru Sene  have commenced a 24 hour long symbolic hunger strike in front of the DC office in the city on Tuesday May 20 demanding early solution to several problems facing areca growers.

Chamarasa Mali Patil, State President of the Raitha Sangha,  who addressed the protestors highlighted the problems faced by areca growers of the state due to natural calamities and various disease affecting the  areca trees. The growers are finding it difficult to repay the loans secured from Banks,  he said and urged the government to waive the loans. The Rs 175 crore compensation released  for areca growers affected by Kole disease must be directly distributed to farmers, he demanded.

He alleged that the various governments  have failed in protecting the interests of farmers who are incurring losses due to slump in prices of agricultural produce. He said the government which has earmarked a Rs 100 crore emergency fund to assist farmers has however not helped the farmers through direct purchase of produce.

He also strongly criticised the Yettinahole Project and also the attempts to displace farmers on the pretext of implementing Kasturi Rangan Report.

He said the Sangha and Hasiru Sene will stage protest in front of Vidhana Saudha if the government failed to concede to their demands.

KT Gangadhar, State Working President of the Sangha,  Badagalapura Naagendra, General Secretary,  Vijaykumar Hegde, State Vice President, DK District Working President of the Sangha Ravikiran Punacha, labour leader Sudatta Jain and others were present.