KRRS demands land for farmers

Sangha wants right over cultivated govt land of ryots

Flaying the high-handed attitude of Forest officials and demanding 'Patta' for the government land cultivated by the farmers over the ages, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha volunteers staged a stir outside Deputy Commissioner's office on Friday, amidst rains.

Addressing the protesters Sangha District President Uddappa said that the Government has been blindly granting permission and land for building resorts and home stays in the region, which should be stopped at the earliest.

"The Forest Department is now out to plant saplings in cultivated lands of the farmers. This move must be stopped. There is a need to start 'Bhoo Manjurati Samiti' in every taluk across the State.

The Government land gobbled by landlords must be reclaimed and distributed among landless families," he said and added that all those landless families who have applied under Form 50, 51, 52 and 53 must be registered.

He questioned as to why the Government is blind towards destruction of Shola forest by the land mafia to make way for home stays and resorts.

"The landless farmers in the State have been cultivating Gomal land, Devaragadde and C and D category lands since last 25 years. Though these farmers have applied for regularization of land under 'Akrama Sakrama' they have not been given with the rights over the land.

When we demand land for the cause of the Dalits, Adivasis and the backward communities for livelihood the Government says there is no land available. Surprisingly, the Government has acres and acres of land lying vacant when proposals from companies and resort owners are sent," he said.

A memorandum was submitted to the District Deputy Commissioner in this regard, which said that the farmers have been cultivating government land over the last 50 years and these farmers should not be evicted.

[Courtesy: Deccan Herald, June 8, 2012]