While the drought situation is becoming grimmer and farmers’ suicides are rising in the State, Ministers are giving conflicting opinions on the drought. The Chief Minister should convene a special session of the Assembly to fight the drought situation, Samajwadi Party State president Rabi Behera demanded on Friday.
During the last UPA rule, an all-party delegation of Maharashtra led by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had demanded a special package for the farmers of Maharashtra, who lost their crop due unseasonal rain. Similarly the Odisha Chief Minister should lead an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister for a special package for the drought-hit farmers of the State.
Behera welcomed the drought package declared by the CM. But the Government should provide an interim monthly pension to the drought-affected farmers to check farmers’ suicide and migration, he demanded. Interest-free loan, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides should be provided to the farmers for the coming Ravi season, said he.