Farmers Launch Indefinite Hunger Strike in Hulsuru Demanding Drought-Hit Status for Taluk

Farmers and various agricultural organizations in Hulsuru taluk of Bidar district have launched an indefinite hunger strike, urging the Karnataka state government to officially declare Hulsuru as a drought-affected taluk. The agitation gained momentum after the state government recently omitted Hulsuru, along with Bhalki, Aurad, and Kamalanagar, from the list of officially drought-declared taluks in Bidar district, despite severe rainfall deficits affecting local agriculture. According to local farmers, standing crops such as black gram, green gram, pigeon pea, and soybean have suffered extensive damage due to prolonged dry spells and erratic monsoon rains across Hulsuru's rural areas. Protesting under the banners of local agrarian bodies, including the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, demonstrators submitted formal memoranda to the taluk administration and held demonstrations in Hulsuru town. They emphasized that without an official drought notification, thousands of farming families in Hulsuru will be deprived of government drought relief funds, crop insurance payouts, and institutional loan restructuring. Local representatives, including Basavakalyan MLA Sharanu Salagar, have also pressed senior government officials to revise the drought notification, warning of escalated protests if the government fails to include Hulsuru. For residents and rural households across Hulsuru taluk, an official drought designation remains crucial to secure financial compensation, subsidised fodder for cattle, and expanded work under employment guarantee schemes amid widespread crop failure.