250 farmers committed suicide in Karnataka since JD(S)-Congress came to power

In Karnataka, over 250 farmers have committed suicide so far in the Congress-JD(S) coalition which came to power in the state in June this year. According to the Deccan Chronicle report, there have been more suicides in South Karnataka than in Hyderabad and Mumbai- Karnataka. However, Lutyens’ media has not been eager to cover these suicides as it’s not a BJP ruled state.

The JD(S) during state assembly campaign had targeted Siddaramaiah led Congress government in the state over the issue of farmers’ suicide, in fact, it was one of the main poll plank of the JD(S), and it had also promised to waive off all farm loans within 24 hours of coming to power.

In the year 2014-15, 101 farmers committed suicide in Karnataka. In 2016-17, 103 farmers committed suicide. Overall, more than 2000 farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka in the last three years. The conditions of farmers in the state have only exacerbated with every passing day. The JD(S) has failed to fulfill its promise of farm loan waiver, and farmers of the state are feeling cheated.

Just a few days back, a debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by hanging himself in Bagalkot. The deceased farmer has been identified as Hampanna Hoogar.

This suicide goes on to show the real face of JD(S)-Congress coalition and has completely exposed the false claims made by the alliance. Before this incident, in November, a 44-year-old sugarcane farmer committed suicide and left a note addressing HD Kumaraswamy. In the note, the farmer identified as Jayakumar held government accountable over mounting debts.

In Ballari district, another farmer had committed suicide due to the mounting debts as the government wasn’t able to provide the loan waiver. According to the police reports, 40-year-old Jummani Lingappa of Varakanahalli village didn’t own farmland but had taken credit to cultivate crops on land his mother owned.

The Deccan Chronicle has quoted the president of the Karnataka Sugarcane Growers’ Association, Mr. Kurubur Shanthkumar, saying, “Farmers would have respected Mr Kumaraswamy had he to stuck to his promise of waiving loan taken from nationalised banks. But he is lying every day to escape the wrath of the opposition parties.” He also added, “No bank will act on oral directions from the government.  Many farmers had hoped that their crop loans from nationalised banks would be waived, but they are disappointed.  Unless the government does something immediately, the trend of suicides will not stop.”

In the month of July, HD Kumaraswamy had announced an Rs. 34,000 crore farm loan waiver in the state budget, to be spread over four years and as many stages, covering farmers who had defaulted on loan payments till 31st December 2017. The Janta Dal (Secular) party in its election manifesto had promised to waive off Rs. 53,000 crore of agricultural debt once the party comes into power but in reality, only 800 farmers till date have been benefitted from farm loan waivers in Karnataka.

In November, according to the TOI report, farmers were being issued arrest warrants for not repaying their loans. Many Private Banks have gone to the extent of filing criminal cases against the defaulters on charges of dishonoring post-dated cheques. In Belagavi district, 160 suits were filed and arrest warrants against 62 farmers were issued. Private Banks have even seized the tractor of the farmers. 

According to the Deccan Herald report, the state government in its order had said that those farmers who have taken a loan on gold ornaments, or a vehicle loan or a loan to buy fodder or anything else will not get the benefit of the loan waiver scheme. The order also said that a farmer would not be eligible for the scheme if he/she has filed his/her income tax return for even one year during the last three years or has a job in the government or cooperative sector and gets a monthly salary of up to Rs 20,000. The order also said that small farmers should not have more than two hectares of land; their annual income should be less than Rs 1.25 lakh. 

For more details: The reality of Congress’ farm loan waiver promises