Pics: Joshwa D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 18: The Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Friday November 18, to urge the district administration and the government to fulfil various demands of the farmers.

The protesters demanded the government to provide housing sites and title deeds to all the poor landless families who have been residing for years together on government lands, but due to lack of knowledge and illiteracy who have not got an opportunity to claim the land.

K R Shriyan the district president of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) said, “For the past 3 years, many pleas were made to the government but they have not worked for the welfare of these poor landless people. No response has been given for the pleas of the farmers. Many farmers are committing suicide because of the central government’s agriculture policy. Their agricultural policy is in favour of industrialists and not in favour of farmers,"

"As the lands have not been registered, it is facilitating the government to transfer the land rights from farmers and farm labourers to industrialists and entrepreneurs. Moreover, as without registration there is no house number given, the farmers do not have a ration card because of which they have been unable to make use of the facilities provided by the government,” Shriyan added.

"Other than the left ruled states such as Kerala and West Bengal, no states have given the land to the poor farmers. The left ruled states have gone to an extent of limiting the land to 15 acres. The excess land is taken by the government and given to the landless poor farmer," Shriyan explained.

"We demand the government to accept our plea and allot houses for the landless with proper agreement and to provide an opportunity to re-submit the registration papers or title deeds for their respective lands.” Shriyan said.

Later members of KPRS tried to picket the deputy commissioner’s office were arrested by the police and later released.

K Yadava Shetty district secretary of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), Sunil Kumar Bajal of CITU and other members of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha were present during the protest.