1. Loan Recovery Issue and Banning Corrupt Officials and Politicians into Villages:KRRS took up this issue and led the farmers’ movement. Boards were put up banning officials and corrupt politicians from entering villages without prior permission. They also launched a counterseizure of property of those officers who they thought were corrupt, in addition to their own properties attached for nonpayment of loans.
2. Environmental Issue: Farmers have agitated over issues related to environment. KRRS saw some commercial interest in expanding the area under eucalyptus for use by the paper and pulp industry and hence, has opposed it. KRRS demanded promotion of trees which are of relevance to farmers and other rural sections.
3. Mining Issue: KRRS has also taken up granite quarrying issue. Granite was extracted and exported with no benefit to the villagers. KRRS opposed this and made them pay royalties for village betterment in addition to clearing of government dues.
In due course, sand, timber, etc., were also included in their list. They demanded nationalization of these resources and exploitation in a rational way so as to preserve the environment and bring benefits to rural people.
4. Opposing KFC and MNCs: Very recently, KRRS has taken up the issue of patenting of seeds. It has opposed the entry of multi-nationals and patenting of seeds. It **** siege to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and MNC seed companies in Bangalore.
5. Neera Movement: During the 1990’*, the coconut farming belt of Karnataka was affected by pests and no amount of pesticide or conventional methods could save the trees. The pest affected coconut trees were unable to produce coconuts.
The Neera Movement demanded assistance from the government by allowing Neera tapping and producing neera by-products such as jaggery, chocolates, etc. Famers opined that the government must lend helping hand to coconut farmers just like Srilanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Farmers believed that the ** lobby is obstructing the government in favouring the formers. As the agitation intensified, attuned violent, and the conflict between the agitators and the police led to golibar which claimed two lives in Vithalenahalli of Channapatna.
At a later stage, the pest epidemic was controlled and yield from coconut trees improved considerably. With this development, the heat of the neera agitation was lost.
