-Livemint.com Burden of farm loans has driven many Karnataka farmers into the clutches of moneylenders, who at times charge even by the hour Bengaluru: Naveen Kumar, 40, a small farmer in Hassan district, Karnataka, paid Rs.2,400 as premium (Rs.1,200 per acre) to insure his jowar crop last year. The crop failed after deficient rains. But Kumar was covered—or so he thought. Earlier this year, he received Rs1,600 (Rs800 per acre) as compensation—33% less...

-The Times of India INDORE: At least five persons were killed and over a dozen injured when shots were fired during a protest by farmers in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. Curfew has been clamped in Mandsaur and Pipliamandi and internet connectivity has been severed. The death toll, it is feared, may rise. The farmers were demanding that the government grant them a loan waiver and set a minimum...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi today accused the government of creating a grim employment situation through its lack of vision and commitment, reaffirming the Congress's persistent charge of jobless growth in the country over the past few years. "Sad to see our youth let down by this government's lack of vision. Between promises and performance lies capability and commitment," Rahul tweeted, referring to recent news reports about an employment crisis and...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi today asked the BJP "not to play politics with farmers" by waiving loans in Uttar Pradesh alone as agrarian distress was a national crisis and the Centre should come up with a "national" response. Although Rahul described the Uttar Pradesh government's decision as a "step in the right direction", he alleged inaction by the Narendra Modi government by tweeting: "I am happy the BJP has finally...

-RuralIndiaOnline.org Despite the slow decline of the renowned handlooms of Dharmavaram in Andhra Pradesh, Shankara Dhanunjaya tried to work hard and prosper. But in 2016, at the age of 35, debts, crumbling dreams and crushing policy changes drove him to suicide All the handloom halls Into mortuary rooms Being metamorphosed That inexplicable sorrow! (From ‘Maggam bathuku’ an epic poem by Dr. U. Radheya, who is from a family of weavers; translated by Dr. P. Ramesh Narayana) In...