The farmers, who staged a protest under the leadership of , Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha also urged the government to take up relief measures on a war footing.
Former legislator G V Sriram Reddy urged the government to come to the rescue of the farmers as the region has not received enough rain. He demanded the officials to take relief measures on war footing, failing which will force them to intensify their protest.
The taluk is reeling under severe drought. There is severe shortage of drinking, and the administration should initiate steps immediately, he demanded.
The administration has completely failed to implement National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the taluk. Secretaries of the Gram Panchayat and the contractors are involved in the malpractice in the implementation of the scheme, he alleged.
Plight of farmers
Sowing operation has not been completed even in the 5 per cent of the agricultural land and the seeds which are sown are also drying up as the region has not received rain, he said.
He also said that the future of seeds already sown was also bleak due to the present condition as they are drying up.
With drought causing the collapse of rural economy, life in villages had been thrown out of gear, he said, adding that thousands of farm workers had migrated to cities seeking jobs. There is also lack of fodder for the cattle, he alleged.
The administration has completely failed to respond to the peoples problem. The peoples representatives are unaware of these problems. The district in-charge minister has failed to convene the meeting of the official to take the stock of the situation, he complained.
He demanded administration to take action within one week, failing which force them to intensify their agitation.
Zilla Panchayat former member G N Shree Ramappa, leaders D C Srinivas, Hosahudya Ramalingappa, M P Muniventakappa, Channarayappa, Chalapati, G M Ramakrishnappa, C D Gangulappa and many others took part in the protest.
Before staging the protest, thousands of farmers, farmworkers who had come from various parts of the taluk took out a procession, demanding the proper implementation of NREGS. Tahsildar conducted an emergency meeting with the officials of various department. She also discussed on the measures to be taken in the coming days due to the failure of rain, with the farmer’s leaders and promised to take adequate measures.