Now Reading: BJP MLC urges Karnataka to hike farmer suicide compensation
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BJP MLC urges Karnataka to hike farmer suicide compensation
BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur has accused the Karnataka government of neglecting farmers by not revising the Rs 5 lakh compensation for families of farmers who died by suicide, a sum fixed…
BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur has accused the Karnataka government of neglecting farmers by not revising the Rs 5 lakh compensation for families of farmers who died by suicide, a sum fixed under a 2015 order. He said more than 3,500 farmers died by suicide in the state between 2023-24 and 2025-26, citing government data. Kumar also criticised the withdrawal of the state's additional Rs 4,000 contribution under the Kisan Samman scheme, which had raised annual assistance to Rs 10,000.
In the Legislative Council, Kumar alleged that faulty rain-gauges in coastal and Malnad regions were leading to inaccurate rainfall data, causing many farmers to be denied crop insurance benefits despite heavy losses. He demanded the immediate repair of rain-gauges, restoration of the state's Kisan Samman contribution, and a hike in the compensation amount. He also urged the government to clear all pending compensation cases without delay.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The demand to revise the 2015 compensation order comes as input costs and inflation have risen sharply, making Rs 5 lakh far less meaningful than a decade ago. The state government's decision to drop its Rs 4,000 top-up to PM-KISAN means Karnataka farmers now receive only the central Rs 6,000, a cut that affects over 30 lakh beneficiaries. The rain-gauge issue points to a systemic problem: weather-based crop insurance relies on accurate local data, and faulty equipment can disqualify entire villages from claims. The government's response to these demands will be tested when the legislature next debates the agriculture budget.
Source: deccanherald.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
