Bengaluru, Sep 24 Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on Thursday termed the state government’s Rs 2,500 input subsidy for drought-hit farmers inadequate and urged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to waive agricultural loans and provide higher compensation.
Participating in the Assembly debate on the drought situation, the senior BJP leader said the relief announced by the government did not reflect the difficulties faced by farmers, particularly the rising cost of cultivation and wages.
The government had announced Rs 2,500 each for farmers as immediate drought assistance.
Ashoka said the Rs 2,500 assistance amounted to only a few days’ wages for farmers in parts of the state and questioned the decision to provide the amount per farmer rather than per acre.
He urged Shivakumar to waive farmers’ loans, saying the drought presented an opportunity for the chief minister to demonstrate his commitment to ryots.
He also demanded seven hours of continuous three-phase power supply to farmers and waiver of interest on agricultural loans for two years.
Ashoka said the BJP government had provided additional assistance over and above NDRF norms during previous droughts and floods, and asked the Congress government to extend similar relief.
He urged the government to provide at least Rs 25,000 per acre as drought compensation, saying Shivakumar had earlier spoken of Rs 50,000 per acre.
“Please withdraw this announcement of Rs 2,500. Waive the farmers’ loans,” Ashoka said.
He also criticised the government’s provision of six hours of power to farmers, challenging it to verify the claim by directly asking farmers whether they were receiving continuous three-phase electricity.
(PTI News)
