Mysuru: Despite all the criticism, Chief Minister Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy is intent on embarking on his village stay (graama vasthavya) programme from next week saying it will take officers closer to the people and instill courage among farmers.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the house of 45-year-old farmer Suresh who ended his life in KR Pet taluk of Mandya district, after recording a selfie video appealing to the CM to fill the lakes in his parched Santhebachalli hobli, Mr Kumaraswamy said: “We are all set to fill the lakes in villages in the entire state on a war footing as there is water shortage due to drought. A project worth Rs 213 crore has been approved to fill 45 to 50 lakes in villages in Santhebachalli hobli and in Nagamangala and Channarayapatna taluks alone,” he said.




Hitting out at the critical comments of BJP leaders on his village stay, Mr Kumaraswamy said, "Grama vasthavya is not a gimmick. They (BJP leaders) do not know how many poor people I meet daily. Waiving loans alone will not end their problems. There is a village in Maharashtra where villagers themselves are filling lakes and are earning well from agriculture. I sent our officers to that village and have got a documentary done on alternative techniques to empower them which will be shown to our farmers when I visit the villages. Suicide is not the end of all problems. Farmers have to stay strong and face any adversity. We have plans to bring a bill like they did in Kerala where they have formed a commission to help people who are facing problems due to private loans,” Mr Kumarswamy said.