Land reforms concessions to coffee growers now serves them well

Land reforms concessions to coffee growers now serves them well

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 22, 2015:  Speaking as the chief guest at the celebration of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs, MLA M C Nanaiah  said that  coffee growers exemption from the Land Reforms Act was a gift by former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs,  The celebration was organised by the Zilla Panchayat, district administration and the Department of Backward Classes and Minorities in Madikeri Aug 21.

The MLA stated that had the coffee lands  not been excluded from the Act, the coffee growers would not have been surviving today, as they would have lost their land, like in other parts of the State. Adding that the concession was given for coffee growers as it was the only crop then that was generating foreign exchange for the country.

MLA Naniah said that if the conversion of the agricultural land for various other purposes was not stopped, it will have an adverse effect on agriculture.  In 1975, when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency on the nation, the Chief Minister Devaraj Urs did not misuse the situation. Instead, he framed laws like the Land Reforms Act.  Several people were in favour of the emergency imposed, as there was no corruption during the time and peace prevailed in the nation.