Around 10,000 farmers under the banner of the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) on Friday staged a rally in front of the district Collector’s office here to press for their longstanding demands of “price, prestige and pension” for them.
“Everything has changed over time barring the fate of the farmers. At a time when slogans are being raised for a second independence, I believe the foundation-stone for the second independence movement was laid here today. Almost 80 per cent of the population of Odisha is dependent on farming. However, one would detest himself after seeing the condition of farmers,” said NKS leader Akshaya Kumar.
“We talk about industrialisation here in Jajpur. However, Nagada also exists here. The farmers fail to see progress in any area. We will ghereo the State Assembly on December 14 to press for fulfilment of our demands. Around 36 lakh farmers of the State need a monthly pension of `5,000 from the Government,” added Kumar.
NKS advisor Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said, “The farmers have suffered the most in past 70 years. Neither do they have social security nor do they have prestige. They do not get the correct procurement price for their produces. They don’t even have an organisation to channel their demands. That is the reason we are trying to unite them. I am sure the Government will be forced to give in to their demands, should the farmers come together.”