‘Pay dues to sugarcane farmers by May 25; will gherao sugar commissioner’s office otherwise’

Mysuru: In an expression of growing frustration among sugarcane ryots across Karnataka, president of the State Sugarcane Growers’ Association Kuruburu Shanthakumar on Wednesday warned the government that the members of the outfit would gherao the sugar commissionerate office in Bengaluru if outstanding dues from sugar factories were not settled before May 25.
Shanthakumar, who interacted with the media in Mysuru, said that most of the 67 sugar factories spread across the state, who had procured raw material from farmers had fulfilled their financial commitment to the latter. “The information we have indicates that factories collectively owe farmers more than Rs 4,000 crore. We have staged many protests, but to no avail. This is the reason we have decided to gherao the office of the sugar department commissioner, demanding payment of dues to farmers who are battling a financial crisis,” he added.
Expressing umbrage at the restrictions that the elections imposed on undertaking drought-relief projects, Shanthakumar added, “ “The drought has severely affected the farmers. Owing to the Model Code of Conduct, the district in-charge ministers have not been able to take stock of the situation since officials have not been able to brief them about the same. We urge the Election Commission to relax the code or withdraw it for the sake of farmers.”
Asking the state government to withdraw cases filed against farmers on various occasions, Shanthakumar said, “Farmers will hold a meeting in Mysuru on May 20 to have a wide-ranging discussion on all issues that we are dealing with at the moment. Also, we will participate in a programme organised by the JSS during which the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Gita Gopinath will be felicitated.”