BUDGET NOT ENCOURAGING TO KODAGU

MLC Mr.Arun Machaiah commenting on the budget told that except for the fact that a Sainik School is allotted to Kodagu, budget did not support other interests of the district. Talking to TOI, he regretted that budget did not include the promised package of 107 crores to the district. He also said that the demands by the coffee growers are not met with.

While the budget has many appreciable parts, it does not include any beneficial schemes for the Tribes, he noted. Meanwhile, he said that the government should reserve at least thirty percent entry for the people from Kodagu in the Sainik School.

PROTEST AGAINST PHC

Members of the DYFI, CITU and Dalitha Sangarsh Samiti statged a protest before the Primary Health Centre at Siddapur yesterday.

The protestors alleged that the hospital lacks basic facilities. They demanded that the Centre reduces room rents and other costs, a driver to the ambulance vehicle that is lying idle and to maintain full stock of medicines.

Dr.Rangaswamy, addressing the protestors promised to fulfill their demands after talking to the higher officials.

PLANTERS TO WALK TO BANGALORE

A protest rally by the small growers at Maragodu decided to walk to Bangalore to place their demands before the government.

Holding protest march at Maragodu yesterday, the small growers lamented that the governments are ignoring their demands in spite of their acutely delicate financial position. They demanded stabilisation of Coffee market, concession on interest and loan on easy installments etc. Earlier, the protesters picketed the local banks and cautioned them against forceful recovery of loans.

The BJP leaders Mr.M.B.Devaiah, Kushalappa and Mr.Kaverappa addressed the gathering. The BJP leaders told that MLC Mr.Sadananda Gowda will hold a meeting of the elected representatives from the coffee regions to discuss the solutions and future steps.