Youth have returned to villages, are involved in agriculture

Politics is such a field that it attracts people from other fields. Several police officers of Karnataka have entered politics and became MLAs, ministers and MPs. Some of them are H.T. Sangliana, K.C.Ramamurthy, Kodandaramaiah, H.V.Rajeev and B.C.Patil. Hailing from North Karnataka, Patil had made a good name for himself in the Police Department as a ‘Kadak’ officer in Bengaluru City, acted in a couple of Kannada movies and ultimately got attracted to politics where he became MLA and is now a minister in the current BJP government. In a brief chat with Shyam Sundar Vattam of News Trail, Patil spoke from the heart about his love for peasants and his interest in uplifting the living standard of farmers. Here are excerpts.

NT: What is the special significance of Farmers’ Day being observed next week?

Patil: It was not started by me, my department is doing it. It was started a few years ago and is celebrated in the last week of December as a day to pay tribute to farmers who work day and night in fields to feed the people. On this day, some programmes are held to make people understand the importance of farmers in our agriculture-dependent country.

NT: Has the living condition of farmers improved?

Patil: Of course. The living standard of far mers has definitely improved thanks to so many schemes launched by both the state and union governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a number of programmes to double the income of farmers as well as to make agriculture a profitable profession. Some of the schemes like Kisan Sanman have really helped farmers in a great way. The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has launched several schemes keeping in view the economic stability of farmers.

NT: Recently, in one of your speeches, you had mentioned other sources of income for farmers. Can you explain?

Patil: There are several successful experiments in the field of agriculture in the State. At one time, aged persons were working in fields as their children went off to work in cities. But things changed during the Covid-19 pandemic as a number of youth have returned to villages and are actively involved in agriculture. A city-returned youth has reared 100 sheep in a piece of land and he earns around Rs 12 lakh to 14 lakh per annum. Similarly, a person in Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, earns around Rs 1.5 crore every year through apiculture. Such examples are found in plenty. Mother Earth will help those who work hard and with dedication.

NT: Any new scheme planned to take programmes to the doorsteps of farmers?

Patil: Yes. Along with extending the purview of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima yojana, the government plans to start a campaign ‘My policy in my hand’ in order to distribute crop insurance policies among farmers. Any new scheme started in the interest of farmers must be taken to their doorsteps. Whenever natural calamities destroy crops, it is the insurance policy which comes in handy for them. Compared to previous governments, our government released the crop input subsidy within one or two months after the receipt of a report from the district administration.

NT: Ahead of elections, BJP MLC from Mysuru A.H.Vishwanath is issuing statements which have caused the incumbent government a major embarrassment. Your views?

Patil: I think Vishwanath does not know what he talks about. In 2019, he had openly told everyone that they had joined together to remove the worst CongressJD(S) coalition government. Now, he is making claims that he was offered money to join the BJP. It is not correct on his part to make such allegations.

NT: There is speculation that some sitting Congress MLAs may join the saffron Party. Is it so? Who are they?

Patil: In fact, a lot of people are knocking on the doors of the BJP. Since the Assembly elections are due to be held in the next five to six months, a list of all those who are joining the BJP will be out soon. The state of the Congress Party is pitiable as their Bullock Cart yatra, Cycle Yatra and Padayatra have failed. Now Congress leaders are embarking on a Bus yatra, Helicopter Yatra, Jodo Yatra and Thodo Yatra. These leaders do not have anything to do and so they are embarking on yatras.