Even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reiterated his Government’s “farmer welfare schemes” at two meetings in Kalahandi and Balangir districts on Thursday, thousands of farmers from across the State under the banner of the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) staged a massive rally at the lower PMG in the State capital here in the day demanding fulfilment of their various demands.
The NKS had begun a two-day march from Cuttack to the capital on Wednesday protesting the apathetic attitude of the State and Central Governments towards peasants.
During the march, in a shocking incident, a farmer died while on the way to join the demonstration. The deceased was Birakishore Biswal (70), a resident of Barbari village under Chanipur Panchyat in Salepur block of Cuttack district.
Sources said Biswal complained pain in his chest while taking rest on Wednesday night and was found dead at the camp near the Bhubaneswar-Puri bypass road where the agitators halted for the night. He was brought to the Capital Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
The farmers held the rally to press for their long-pending demands such as implementation of a pension scheme for farmers, payment of compensation to the kin of the farmers who committed suicide, higher minimum support price, better procurement facilities, better social dignity and drought compensation, among others.
later, a six-member delegation led by NKS State coordinator Akhaya Kumar met Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma.
“The State Government promised to try to fulfil some small demands. The Minister said the Government is trying to stop of distress sale of paddy, return of gunny bags, improvement of irrigation facility,” said Akshya Kumar.
“But the Government did not fulfil our main demands like pension to the farmers,” said Kumar, adding that the Government did not accept farmers’ suicide cases.
“The Minister requested to wait till the Union Budget is placed,” he informed.
“If the State Government fails to fulfil our demands at the earliest, we would hold a Jail Bharo Andolan and fast-unto-death from March 18,” Kumar threatened.