Farmers hit streets once again demanding price, prestige and pension

Bhubaneswar: Protesting government’s callous attitude towards their long-standing demands for fair price, pension and prestige, farmers under the aegis of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) took to streets in various places across the state today.

According to sources, Keonjhar district unit of the NNKS staged road blockade on NH-49 in the district. During the protest, the agitating members clashed with the police and were later detained.

In separate protests, members of NNKS detained a vegetable laden truck near Banki in Cuttack,  staged dharna on Khallikote National Highway in Berhampur and staged rail-roko agitation in Kujang of Paradip.

As per reports, adequate security measures have been taken by the concerned district authorities to avoid any untoward incident.

Earlier on February 6, tension erupted at different places across the State when thousands of farmers were taken into preventive custody while they were on their way to attend a mega rally organised by NNKS in Bhubaneswar.

The farming community has been demanding a security allowance of Rs 5000 per month for nearly 36 lakh farmers of the State with an annual budgetary allocation of Rs 21,600 crore.