Vikash Sharma

The Odisha government is not committed towards the welfare of the farmers and it is least bothered to protect their interest, alleged the Congress on Saturday.

Though the State government boasts about its Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation or KALIA scheme, it is a mere lollipop, Congress spokesperson Sudarshan Das said.

Addressing a presser, Das said recently two farmers in Nabarangpur and Balasore districts had committed suicide over alleged crop loss. Despite this, no official of the State Agriculture department or from the government side visited the houses of the deceased farmers, which speaks volumes about the concerns of the State government, he alleged.

“It seems the State government has turned a blind eye towards the plight of the farmers. We are demanding a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each for the family of deceased farmers,” said Das.

The Kisan Congress leaders have also demanded the reopening of all mandis for the procurement of kharif crop. “The ‘Katni-Chatni’ system should immediately stop and MSP of paddy be fixed at Rs 2930,” said Kisan Morcha President, Amiya Patnaik adding that already a letter in connection with the demands has been submitted to the Centre and State government.

The Congress will intensify its agitation if the demands are not fulfilled at the earliest, Patnaik added. Meanwhile, the response of the State government and concerned Agriculture department officials over the allegations could not be obtained.

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