BANGALORE: Following the spate of suicides by farmers in the State, the Government has decided to hold a day-long interactive session with farmers on Thursday at Jnana Jyothi auditorium of the Central College here to elicit views on the steps to be initiated to prevent suicides.

Farmers, their leaders, progressive farmers from 27 districts and officials of Agriculture, Horticulture and Finance departments will be invited to participate in the session to be presided by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Addressing presspersons after a high-level meeting on the issue on Tuesday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the deputy commissioners had been directed to identify about 25 farmers in each district to attend the meet from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chief Minister has appealed to experts and progressive farmers to suggest ways to tackle the distress caused to farmers following crash in prices. The meeting would discuss district-wise problems of farmers.

He said Floor leaders of Opposition parties in the State legislature would also be invited to the meeting.

The Government, he said, had requested Doordarshan to telecast the proceedings of the session live and those who could not attend it, could share their views over telephone.

The meeting also discussed the slum dwellers problems in the city and other parts of the State.

A Rs. 65-crore plan had been prepared to construct houses for residents of Ejipura slum in the city, he said.

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