Karnataka Sugarcane Growers’ Association seeks drought declaration, urges distress relief payout to affected farmers
Karnataka’s State Sugarcane Growers’ Association urged the government to declare a state-wide drought, citing monsoon failure across 180+ taluks. It sought ₹40,000 relief per farmer, crop loan waivers, easier gold loan renewals, revised NDRF norms, and low-key Mysuru Dasara celebrations amid worsening water and power shortages.
Bengaluru: The State Sugarcane Growers’ Association has submitted an urgent appeal to Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, demanding the immediate declaration of a state-wide drought and a comprehensive package of relief measures for distressed farmers.
Highlighting severe monsoon failure across more than 180 taluks in the state, Association President Kurubur Shanthakumar stated that major reservoirs remain dry, leaving farmers unable to undertake sowing operations due to locked canal gates. In areas where sowing had commenced, standing crops have withered completely owing to prolonged water stress.
The Association criticised the government’s delay in officially declaring a state-wide drought. It demanded that the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) relief criteria be restructured on a scientific basis to reflect ground-level crop losses accurately.
The body urged the government to distribute an immediate distress relief payout of Rs 40,000 per affected farmer. Citing relief models adopted in neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, Shanthakumar urged state to waive crop loans availed from nationalised, cooperative and private banks.
To finance agricultural inputs, thousands of smallholders have pledged gold ornaments. Given their inability to pay principal or interest, the state Chief Secretary who chairs the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) must immediately instruct banks to renew gold loans upon interest payment without forcing immediate recovery.
Pointing to severe acute shortages of drinking water and electricity, the association called for Mysuru Dasara celebrations to be kept low-key, traditional and simple. “Delaying drought relief is pushing the farming community into severe financial peril. The state administration must act immediately to stop bank recovery proceedings and step in with direct financial aid,” said Kurubur Shanthakumar.
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Source : Deccan Herald
