Padma Shri award 2016 nominee from Jharkhand Simon Oraon has expressed grief over the condition of farmers in the State and said he would receive one of country’s highest civilian awards only when the farmers of the State get their due. Oraon also demanded that CM of the State should visit his village and solve farmers’

problems.

“I have not worked alone. The award is a result of all those farmers and villagers who have worked for me. So, this belongs to everyone. If people are happy I will be happy. But, they are not. The condition of farmers is not good even today,” said Oraon talking to a regional news channel in Ranchi.

“All farmers need wells, fertilizer, seeds and access to other resources for agriculture. However, they have not been getting the required support from authorities. Wells are being dug at the wrong place at the wrong season. There is no timely support to farmers and the respective governments have failed at the policy level,” he added.

Expressing his despair at the rampant corruption and Government apathy towards farmers, Oraon said he would accept the award only when the problems of farmers are addressed properly. “I will go to receive award but will not go alone. Every person who worked with me has a share in the award. Moreover, I want the CM to visit our village and solve the issues of farmers. It will not be justified if I go alone to receive the award,” he said.

Oraon, popularly known as the ‘Pahra Raja’ (King of village) among villagers of Bero Block of Ranchi district has been chosen to be among the recipients of Padma Shri award 2016.

The 84-year-old tribal man is responsible for teaching people of 51 villages in the Bero area to combat low rainfall by taming rivers and streams and  making the most of the monsoon by constructing check dams and canals for irrigation in about 1000 acres of land.

With the help of villagers he built the first check dam in Bero in 1961. later, he constructed two more dams, ponds and wells in the area. He also worked to save the depleting forest cover in the region and stop soil erosion. He, alongwith villagers planted over 35,000 trees of Mango, Jamun, Sal and jackfruit in the area.PNS n Ranchi

Padma Shri award 2016 nominee from Jharkhand Simon Oraon has expressed grief over the condition of farmers in the State and said he would receive one of country’s highest civilian awards only when the farmers of the State get their due. Oraon also demanded that CM of the State should visit his village and solve farmers’

problems.

“I have not worked alone. The award is a result of all those farmers and villagers who have worked for me. So, this belongs to everyone. If people are happy I will be happy. But, they are not. The condition of farmers is not good even today,” said Oraon talking to a regional news channel in Ranchi.

“All farmers need wells, fertilizer, seeds and access to other resources for agriculture. However, they have not been getting the required support from authorities. Wells are being dug at the wrong place at the wrong season. There is no timely support to farmers and the respective governments have failed at the policy level,” he added.

Expressing his despair at the rampant corruption and Government apathy towards farmers, Oraon said he would accept the award only when the problems of farmers are addressed properly. “I will go to receive award but will not go alone. Every person who worked with me has a share in the award. Moreover, I want the CM to visit our village and solve the issues of farmers. It will not be justified if I go alone to receive the award,” he said.

Oraon, popularly known as the ‘Pahra Raja’ (King of village) among villagers of Bero Block of Ranchi district has been chosen to be among the recipients of Padma Shri award 2016.

The 84-year-old tribal man is responsible for teaching people of 51 villages in the Bero area to combat low rainfall by taming rivers and streams and  making the most of the monsoon by constructing check dams and canals for irrigation in about 1000 acres of land.

With the help of villagers he built the first check dam in Bero in 1961. later, he constructed two more dams, ponds and wells in the area. He also worked to save the depleting forest cover in the region and stop soil erosion. He, alongwith villagers planted over 35,000 trees of Mango, Jamun, Sal and jackfruit in the area.