Bengaluru, Apr 11: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda claimed the lockdown decision was taken in 'haste' without forethought because of which farmers and the working class were 'suffering' and suggested measures to mitigate the impact. The state government should have consulted experienced citizens, officials, progressive farmers, farmer organisations and wholesale traders about the pros and cons before lockdown, he said in a letter to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, while highlighting that 61 per cent of the state's population depended on agriculture.
Because of the "hasty decision taken without any preparations", farmers of the country and the state are facing financial distress," he said in the April 9 letter, a copy of which was released to media here on Friday. The JD(S) patriarch suggested taking up some measures, including ensuring no restrictions on agriculture activities, procurement of horticulture produce at a fair price, relaxing export curbs on it, to provide relief to farmers, agriculture labourers, and daily wage workers.
On Sunday, Gowda had said he has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his support in the nation's battle against COVID-19 pandemic when the latter called him to discuss the situation. In his letter to the chief minister, Gowda said: "...the lockdown implemented to control the spread of coronavirus has led our farmers into despair and put their lives into a burning fire.
This lockdown looks like a decision taken at haste without proper thinking and forethought for our farmers, agriculture labourers, and daily wage workers." He said the lockdown decision was taken after remaining 'quite' for about two months since the first corona infection was reported in the country on January 30. Among the suggestions made by the former prime minister include, procurement of horticulture produce at a fair price like in the case of milk from villages by the government through related organisations like Karnataka Horticulture Federation, HOPCOMS among others.
As horticulture produce was perishable, there should be no restriction on its procurement, transportation and marketing; all processing related activities of horticulture produce should be given relaxation from the lockdown, he said. Gowda also called for relaxation on exports for horticulture produce and its processed items. There should be no restriction on agriculture activities; a national grid has to be set up for marketing of horticulture produce, he said.
If such measures were not taken up immediately, the government will have to pay compensation to farmers for losses. Lack of remedial measures would lead to a shortage of supply, leading to rebellion from the people and may result in farmers' suicides and bringing about a situation that might be more grave than coroanvirus, he said.
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Goons.....say something......she was not wearing a burka
showoff...who cares..!!
Show off....who cares..!!
BJP MLAs are playing in crores. where does this money come from. Income tax officers should raid this type of MLAs for right source of income. this is definitely from unlawful activities and illegal. MLAs are playing with crores whereas poor people are carrying dead bodies of their beloved on their shoulders and baby is dying on ones shoulder because Govt hospital did not provide him stretcher. What a shame. Its shameful to our public who select these types of goonda people to be Ministers only to get enriched.
What is her age?
Yes BJP MLA's are all coming in media for wrong reasons.. They themselves living in LUxury and never care for the poor of the country.
The road condition is not good enough for these imported cars....very expensive car.....fixing dent of car will require another one crore....rickshaw guy should be compensated with at least one crore....
everybody once will hit their new vehicle somewhere. why only targeting politicians all the way, if something did by congress, bjp will highlight. if bjp congress will blame. now a days media also doing the same thing, seriously alteast media should stop their saffron views. work for the development of the society provide true news to our people.
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