Will bring law to prevent confiscation of farmers' property over delay in loan repayment: CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Nov 5: The Karnataka government will introduce a law to stop the confiscation or auction of farmers' property over any delay or non-payment of loan taken for agricultural purposes, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday.
Speaking at the concluding session of Krishi Mela and distribution of awards to farmers at the Gandhi Krishi Vignan Kendra (GKVK) campus here, he said in case of non-payment of agricultural loan, farmers must be given more time for repayment instead of confiscating or auctioning their property.
Necessary instructions have already been given to the Department of Cooperation and other departments. As a result the departments are responding to the plight of farmers, he said.
Noting that economic growth is fully dependent on the agricultural sector, Bommai said agricultural universities must take up research regarding agro-economics and give suggestions to the government.
These universities must work in tandem with the government and inform it regarding new research and methodology, the chief minister said.
Both Bengaluru and Dharwad Universities of Agricultural Sciences have been functioning for 58 years and helping farmers. One thousand acres of land has been reserved each in Dharwad and Bengaluru universities for natural farming, he said.
"The varsities have been asked to increase agriculture output with less capital investment and to grow crops without using chemical fertiliser," Bommai said.
The "Yashasvini" health insurance scheme has been re-launched since November 1, the chief minister told the gathering.
Bommai said the state government will launch more farmer-friendly programmes which included giving loan to 10 lakh additional farmers from the current academic year.
He appealed to farmers to think scientifically, try new varieties to increase productivity and take up comprehensive agriculture.
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
