Sugar factories fail to pay dues, farmer ends life

BELAGAVI: The Amarapur family from Veerapankopp, a small village in Bailhongal taluk, is known for experimenting with new techniques and getting a high yield from their land in the surrounding villages. But without adequate rainfall, and no other source of water for cultivation, even this pioneering family was helpless.

For Chinnappa Gangappa Amarapur, 61, the farmer who had mastered farming for over 45 years, there was only one way out of the loans and poor crop yield: suicide. Early on the morning of June 7, he consumed pesticide when his family members were asleep. They later rushed him to Civil Hospital but Amarapur’s health deteriorated and he died on the morning of June 8.

Life was good for the Amarapur family: Chinnappa had bought a tractor with a loan of Rs 8 lakh from a nationalized bank in 2010. He had paid up about Rs 4.5lakh, but for two or three years, he could not pay the loan instalments due to drought. He planned to repay his debt with the Rs 1.30lakh -- his sugarcane bill for 2014-15 – he was expecting from Soubhagyalaxmi Sugar factory, and Rs 56,000 for 2017-18 from MK Hubballi Sugar Factory.

Despite many protests and demands, the factories did not pay the dues. In the middle of this, the bank sent a notice for debt clearance, and asked the witnesses to bring Chinnappa to the bank every time when they visit. The witnesses, who were Chinnappa’s friends, used to remind him about the loan.

Shanmuk Amarapaur, 34, the younger son of Chinnappa, said his father was a softspoken and broadminded person who managed the family’s finances, and had been worried for a few days. “We never thought he would take such an extreme step due to the loan. Now our backbone is broken. We realize how difficult it is to manage a joint family. The health of my mother Fakeerawwa has deteriorated,” he told TOI.

Chinnappa is survived by his wife, two married sons, one married daughter, daughters-in-law and a grandson. His sons grows soya, jowar and sugar cane in their field. This family owes 3.15 acres and cultivates 2 acres on lease basis.

The tahsildar, MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar, MP Suresh Angadi and other local politicians visited the family and promised to provide relief from the government. But nothing has as yet reached the family. “Even after my husband died, these sugar mills have not paid our dues,” said Fakeerawwa.