Date:29/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/29/stories/2008062952170300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Inmates, volunteers of Odanadi show the way

Staff Correspondent

A unique protest against farmer suicides was observed

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Message: Inmates of Odanadi take out a silent procession in Mysore on Saturday.

MYSORE: Inmates of Odanadi Seva Samsthe, a social organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and empowers the victims of sexual exploitation here on Saturday, took out a silent procession to appeal to the farmers not to commit suicide.

Holding placards that held appeals to muster courage and desist from committing suicide, over 50 inmates of Odanadi commenced their procession from K.R. Circle, and after passing Devaraja Urs Road, they reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner. There they formed a circle and sang pro-farmer songs. Later, curious onlookers also joined them.

They did not submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, but appealed to the district authorities to adopt pro-farmer attitudes to put an end to farmer suicides.

Addressing the gathering, Head quarter’s Assistant to Deputy Commissioner, Jayanna, assured them that they would take every measure to dissuade farmers from taking the extreme step.

Convener of Odanadi, Stanley, said that it was regrettable that farmers, who were the backbone of the country, were committing suicide because of the lopsided policies of successive governments. He said that agitations had so far failed to contain the suicides. That is why Odanadi had resolved to appeal to the authorities in this way. Painter K.T. Shivaprasad and volunteers from Sweden, England, Italy and other countries, who work with Odanadi, participated in the event.