The Odisha Assembly on Saturday witnessed a pandemonium over farmer issues. Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra came down heavily on the ruling BJD government and the Centre for neglecting the real issues of farmers.
He demanded return of the crop insurance money and attacked the government over unavailability of agri loans to farmers. As per records, farmers were deprived of crop insurance during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
He accused private insurance companies of bungling farmers. He urged the state government to write a letter to the Centre demanding necessary compensation for the farmers.
BJP MLA Mukesh Mahaling informed the House that the state has been divided by 11 climate zone and six clusters. On this basis, district-level tenders have been invited for crop insurance. As the number of cluster is not many, private insurance companies are doing whatever they want. Keeping the interest of farmers’ in view, the state government should increase the number of clusters.
Answering to queries raised by Congress and BJP MLAs during the adjournment motion, Cooperative Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said, “The state government is entitled to provide agri loans to the farmers. The government had removed an insurance company for troubling farmers in 2019. The government would take stern action against companies who would create trouble for farmers to avail money under crop insurance which it did in the past.”
Addressing the media, Mishra said, “Our BJP members feel Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot do this to farmers. They held state government responsible for the plight of farmers. On the other hand, state government blamed Centre for it. I must say both the state and Centre are responsible for this.”
Concerned Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said, “Bima companies have been directed to settle justified claims. The state also has written to Centre to initiate steps to provide money to deserved farmers.”