The Hindu : Karnataka News : Raita Sangha wants industries in villages

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Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Raita Sangha wants industries in villages

Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR: Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha President Kodihalli Chandrashekar has favoured setting up of industrial units in villages. Inaugurating the sangha’s branch at Dodda Belavadi in Huliyar Hobli of Tumkur district on Monday, Mr. Chandrashekar said the State and the Union Government should take an initiative to set up industrial units in villages to prevent migration of its people to cities. "The educated youth have moved into cities in search of jobs. Villages will not improve unless this is checked," he said.

Stating that opposition by farmers for acquisition of their fertile lands for non-agricultural purposes should not be interpreted as they were against setting up of industries in villages, he said. "Farmers will extend all cooperation if any entrepreneur came forward to set up an industry in any village."

Agro-based units

Mr.Chandrashekar said the governments allocated huge funds for the development of urban areas in their Budgets. However, rural development was completely neglected. He urged the Government to formulate a policy so that all agro-based industries are located in rural areas. Agricultural implements, including tractors, could be either manufactured or assembled in villages. Governments should announce soft loans and several incentives for rural industries. Products could then be provided to farmers at cheaper rates, he said. Such a scenario would save farmers from falling into heavy debts, he added.

Mining activity

Referring to rampant mining activity, both legal and illegal, in the areas around Huliyar, Mr. Chandrashekar said: "Even the British did not resort to such large-scale mining. Our elected governments had indulged in looting all kinds of mineral wealth." He said he wondered how the environmentalists in Tumkur district had remained silent over the raging mining activity along the mountain range from Gubbi to CN Halli. He urged the Centre to evolve a national policy on mining with due consideration to conservation of nature.

Farmers’ leader, Chandre Gowda said 80 per cent of the people lived in villages. Governments had not cared to improve health care and education facilities in villages.

He wanted the farmers to contest the ensuing Assembly election.Mr. Chandrashekar inducted 50 farmers’ leaders as office bearers of the sangha by decorating them with "green vastrads" (towels and headgears).

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