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Farmer, unable to get fertilizer, ends life in Karnataka

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Ajjappa (45), a farmer from Komaranahalli in Malebennur, allegedly committed suicide in his fields on Wednesday by consuming poison, reportedly because he was unable to get fertilizer. Ajjappa was a native of Hirebidari in Ranibennur taluk and was cultivating four acres of Gomala land in his in-laws village Komaranahalli. Since he had no land in his name and used to cultivate lands of others on lease, he could not produce any khata certificate or document to get fertilizer. Ajjappa, who consumed poison in his fields, was brought to the Chigateri General Hospital here where he died. As soon as the news of the farmer committing suicide for fertilizer spread, a large number of farmers assembled at the hospital leading to a tense situation. Deputy Commissioner M.B. Dyaberi said that the farmer had availed himself of a loan of Rs. 80,000 and was pressured by the money lender to repay the loan amount and hence he committed suicide. He said that the farmers suicide had nothing to do with the fertilizer scarcity and that he was not eligible for fertilizer as he had no lands. However, Janamma, wife of Ajjappa, and Mohan, his son-in-law, said the farmer had been running from pillar to post to get fertilizer to plant seeds in the fields since some days. He was disappointed over the fertilizer shortage and quota system. Farmers and family members of the deceased refused to receive the body after the post-mortem saying that they would take the body only after the district administration announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to his family. The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Wednesday donated Rs. 3 lakh to the family members of Puttappa Honnatti, the injured farmer who is battling for life at the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Bangalore. The former Prime Minister, accompanied by the former ministers Basavaraj Horatti and P.C. Siddanagoudar, Janata Dal (Secular) leaders N.H. Konaraddi and A.B. Desai, visited the house of Puttappa at Nelogal near Haveri and handed over the money on behalf of the party. Mr. Gowda said Rs. 50,000 each would be deposited in the name of Puttappas son and two daughters, his wife and mother and the remaining Rs. 50,000 was meant for retrieving the ornaments, which Puttappas wife, Karabasamma, had pawned to get money to meet ends meet. Separate bank accounts were opened and the money was deposited. Mr. Gowda also visited the house of farmer Siddalingappa Choori, who was killed in the police firing in Haveri, and consoled the family members. The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had announced that the party would deposit Rs. 2.5 lakh in the names of Siddalingappas son and daughter. Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Gowda said that the Chief Minister should transfer the officials posted in the district, if the judicial inquiry into the police firing were to be conducted impartially. Mr. Gowda criticised Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappas statement that he would resort to agitation if the Centre failed to supply adequate quantity of fertilizers.Addressing presspersons at Hubli Airport before leaving for Bangalore, Mr. Gowda said that both the Centre and the State had a role to play in ensuring adequate supply of fertilizers. He said the administrative machinery had failed in making available the required quantity of fertilizers and seeds to farmers. Mr. Gowda took exception to Mr. Yeddyurappas allegation that there was political conspiracy behind the protests over fertilizers.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 June 2008 )

 

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