In a shocking incident, a farmer from Karnataka, wrote to the concerned authority, seeking permission to die.
Recently, Manjunath Kambar, a farmer from Mangaluru village of Koppala district, Karnataka, tired of the corrupt system, decided to end his life. In his letter addressed to the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), he asked for permission to commit suicide, which has been acknowledged and approved.
What is the reason behind Kambar’s extreme step, especially involving the authority?
Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme, Kambar had built a pond on his farmland. To make the pind happen, he even put his wife’s jewelry on the mortgage. After weeks of labor, he was close to finishing the pond, which would resolve his irrigation issues. When he reached the PDO of Mangaluru, Mr. G. Veeresh, he was disappointed.
The PDO denied the funds, allocated to farmers and demanded a bribe of Rs. 15,000.
Manjunath Kambar said, “I have pledged my wife’s jewelry and got money at a high-interest rate. I pay Rs. 3000 monthly as interest alone. If I get this money, half my problems will be solved and I will get some breathing space. I have visited multiple times but he always shoos me away. He demanded a bribe of Rs. 15,000 to pass my application and I really don’t have that money.”
Furious villagers gathered in front of the village panchayat and demanded an explanation.
Meanwhile, The Taluk Panchayat officials said, the PDO Veeresh G. informed them that Kambar has used machinery (earthmovers) and hence we can’t approve the funds. They promised to look into it.
However, Kambar denied the allegations of using machinery and said that he is very much aware that using machinery is not allowed for MNREGA beneficiaries. He also challenged the PDO to show him proof that the machines are used.
After all this, the PDO has apologized to the farmer orally but hasn’t approved the funds yet. The villagers have decided to stage a protest before the village panchayat against the PDO. Veeresh G, the PDO’s number was switched off when we tried to contact him in this regard.
The matter created a ruckus in the village, demanding justice for Kambar and farmers like him.
Meanwhile, the PDO agreed on the suicide permission and even signed the letter, stamped his seal on it, and gave an acknowledgment as well.
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