Farmers leader Chukki Nanjundaswamy speaking after inaugurating Kittur Utsav in Kittur of Belagavi district on Friday evening. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER Farmers leader Chukki Nanjundaswamy inaugurated the Kittur Utsav in Kittur of Belagavi district on Friday evening.She urged the Union and State governments to focus on the welfare and development of farmers.“Agriculture is suffering from negative growth rate and farmers are forced to abandon farming en masse.

Today, sugarcane growers are forced to come to the streets to demand justice and a fair price. If this is the condition of farmers who grow commercial crops like sugarcane, then you can imagine the condition of those who grow subsistence crops like rice, ragi, wheat and jowar,” she said.“Karnataka ranks second in the country for farmer suicides and within the State, Belagavi district holds the second position.

We need specific policy changes and pro-active steps to stop this,” she said.During her speech, she focussed on the condition of women in general and women farmers in particular. She said that women are forced to carry the burden of all types of negative developments in society and also, in the agriculture sector.“Adverse impacts on the agricultural sector directly and negatively affect women.

The governments must pay close attention to this issue,” she said.She spoke briefly about the life and contribution of Kittur Rani Chennamma who defeated the East India Company in the battle of Kittur in 1824.“Rani Channamma’s courage is an embodiment of the identity of this country and of Karnataka. She stood firmly as a voice for self-respect and dignity.

She fought against the unjust laws of the British and against inequality. “We should draw inspiration from her. Every woman in Kannada land ought to be self-respecting and courageous.

However, the prevailing social mindset places women in a different position,” she said.“In India, a rape occurs every 18 minutes and for every thousand births, 25 female foetuses are aborted. It has reached a point where women are denied even the freedom to be born.

In a society that harbours a mindset conducive to female foeticide, there is a profound lack of understanding regarding gender discrimination,” she said.She said that the development of women and girl children should be the priority of any government. The government must ensure that all women in the State have access to education, at least up to Pre-University Course level. “I urge Minister Satish Jarkiholi to take suitable initiatives through the State government to facilitate this,” she added.MLA Babasaheb Patil, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, Superintendent of Police K.

Ramarajan and others were present. Published - October 23, 2026 08:55 pm IST