Farmers from across Mysuru district staged a significant meeting with Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy on Saturday, levelling serious allegations of widespread corruption and inhumane treatment within the local revenue department. The delegation, exhausted by systemic issues, received an assurance from the IAS officer that he would personally visit and review the functioning of all taluks in the district within the next fortnight.
Farmers Detail a Litany of Grievances
During the intense interaction, cultivators presented a comprehensive list of problems plaguing the agricultural community. A major point of contention was the persistent delay and outright denial of services by the revenue department at the taluk level. Representatives from Hunsur, HD Kote, and Piriyapatna specifically urged the DC to conduct on-ground inspections to review the disposal of pending files.
The farmers highlighted several critical issues, including:
- Unreasonable delays in essential services provided by the revenue department.
- The escalating menace of wild animals and delays in constructing protective barricades and trenches.
- Poor connectivity to farmlands affecting daily operations.
- Delays in 'podi' (land levelling) work and non-issuance of cultivation rights.
Memorandum Lists 15 Major Issues
Congress functionary M Lakshmana, who led the delegation, submitted a detailed memorandum outlining 15 primary challenges. The document drew the DC's attention to alleged cheating in the tobacco market, delay tactics employed by officials in tahsildar offices, and the failure of some panchayat development officers to ensure doorstep delivery of state government benefits. A glaring issue raised was the non-payment of legitimate crop insurance claims to affected farmers.
A poignant allegation came from a woman farmer who claimed that at procurement centres, farmers are forced to pay labourers to shift grain bags. She further alleged that nearly 3 kilograms are deducted from every 50-kilogram bag under the guise of quality testing. "This exploitative practice is compelling farmers to sell their paddy, finger millet, and maize to middlemen instead of using official channels," the farmers collectively asserted.
DC's Response and Procurement Concerns
In response to the barrage of complaints, Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy acknowledged the concerns and committed to direct intervention. However, he also pointed out a notable lack of interest among farmers in selling paddy and maize under the government's Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme at designated procurement centres.
Reddy clarified that while paddy and finger millet procurement centres are already operational, the response from farmers has been surprisingly poor. He also informed the gathering that maize growers from Mysuru district have the option to supply their produce to the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) fodder unit in Hassan, but noted that this avenue has also seen limited uptake. The officer's observations point to a deeper trust deficit or systemic issue discouraging farmers from utilizing official procurement mechanisms.
