The Navnirman Krushak Sangathana (NKS) reiterated its demand for price, prestige and pension to the farmers in meetings held at Khariar.
Meetings were held at Nuapada and Khariar town on Monday and at Tukla village on Tuesday, where the leaders of NKS and local farmers blamed the Government of Odisha and the Centre for the wretched conditions of the farmers.
When the Government servants will get benefit through the 7th Pay Commission, the corporate will benefit in terms of loan waver, the farmers will have to commit suicide due to crop loss, loan burden and distress sale of their products, said the leaders and warned that the farmers would intensify their movement if their problems are not addressed in time.
The gathering at Khariar for the roadside meeting was spontaneous. Hundreds of people, mostly passersby, gathered on the roadside near the police square to listen to the deliberations of the leaders of NKS, who very lucidly spoke on farmers problems and faulty policy of the Government. local farmer leaders in spite of their political affiliations came to speak on the problems of local farmers.
The Odisha Government is not allowing the farmers to withdraw their crop insurance money although the amount has been transferred to the bank accounts of the farmers by the insurance company three months ago, alleged BJP Krushak Morcha district president Sanjay Tiwary.
“Our farmers are suffering crop loss and committing suicide due to propagation of hybrid seeds,” said artist and social worker Jitendra Pattnaik.
Considering the rise in price of gold, silver and other industrial products, the Government should increase the MSP of paddy to at least Rs10,000 per quintal, said farmer leader Ghanashyam Bhitria.
NKS leaders Umakanta Bharat and Seshadev Nanda spoke on the anti-farmer policy of the political parties and called for a strong farmers’ organisation in the State.