DHARMASTHALA: The State Government is thinking to ban arrack and all types of lottery in the State from the financial year 2007-08, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Wednesday.

Addressing members of self-help groups promoted by Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) at a function here , he said the Government had also planned to extend four per cent interest facility on loans to all SHGs and Stree Shakti groups in the State from the next financial year.

M. Kumaraswamy said he would not succumb to any pressure in this regard.

He said that "addiction" to the lottery, especially to on-line lottery, and arrack had ruined many families in the State. He was moved when a person recently approached him and narrated the sorry state of affairs the on-line lottery had brought to his family and many other families in the State, Mr. Kumaraswamy said. "I feel that it is our duty to ban them," he said.'

The Chief Minister said that senior officials in the Vidhana Soudha should take suggestions from farmers, who actually knew the problems of agriculture sector, while framing policies. Farmers had first-hand experience of problems confronted by them. Most officials consulted agriculture graduates from agriculture universities or experts in such universities while framing policies. Officials should change their mindset and invite farmers to the Vidana Soudha to consult them, the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy called upon authorities of banks to provide micro loan to farmers. Banks generally entertained the corporate sector and those who earned more. Instead they should lend to farmers like a minimum amount of Rs. 5,000.

Mr. Kumaraswamy asked D. Veerendra Heggade, president, SKDRDP, to extend the activities of SKDRDP to all districts in the State. Mr. Heggade would be invited to the Vidhana Soudha soon to address officials on taking up projects and making them successful, he said.

Mr. Heggade, who presided over the function, said the Government should ensure that farmers got quality seeds, fertilizer and spray to maintain the quality of produce and to compete in the market. Instability in marketing their produce was the challenge faced by farmers. Private companies should also take interest to buy produces from farmers, he added.

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