Madhu Bangarappa
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Karnataka government has not paid the educational expenses of as many as 461 children of farmers who ended their lives due to drought in the State over the last five years.
From the academic year of 2020-21 to 2024-25, a total of 797 students, the children of farmers who ended their lives due to drought across the State, have applied for their educational expenses. Of these, only 336 students have been paid a total of ₹45.94 lakh.
Responding to a question raised by Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from Janata Dal (Secular) Govindaraju in this regard, at the ongoing legislature session, Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa said that the educational expenses of the remaining 461 students were pending due to non-submission of proposals from the respective districts.
The government has been bearing the entire educational expenses, including hostel charges, of children of farmers who ended their lives due to drought in the State since 2016-17. Between 2017-18 and 2024-25, the DSEL received 1,589 applications of which 1,128 applicants have got their refund.
Following applications made by the students, the district level DSEL officials have to submit a proposal to the State government with documents, including certified copies of names of the parents in the Students Achievement Tracking System (SATS) and death certificate of the farmer parent who ended his/her life. In the case of these 461 students, such proposals have not been submitted from the districts.
The School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) Association has condemned the lackadaisical attitude of the DSEL officials and demanded that the educational expenses of all 461 students be immediately refunded. “Children who have lost their parents are already in distress. The negligence of the DSEL officials at the district level is inhumane. The government should take immediate action to refund these expenses to all eligible students and take action against officials who caused this delay,” said Umesh G. Gangavadi, State president, SDMC Association.
(Those who are in distress and having suicidal tendencies can seek help from Arogya Sahayavani Ph:104)
Published – December 18, 2025 08:10 pm IST
