Pressing for their five-point charter of demands, hundreds of aggrieved farmers, including a large number of women peasants of 10 western Odisha districts, on Thursday hit the streets here and gheraoed the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Northern Division.
The agitating farmers, under the banner of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS), shouting slogans and holding placards demanded not to make Aadhaar Card mandatory for selling paddy, besides provision of input subsidy, drought assistance of Rs 100 per quintal of harvested paddy and disbursal of crop insurance amount to the affected farmers.
“We are yet to get crop insurance money. The Government is totally silent on the issue. Similarly, the Government is also silent on the Chief Minister’s announcement to extend assistance of Rs 100 per quintal of paddy harvested to farmers in drought-affected areas. Moreover, just few farmers have received input subsidy,” alleged farmer leader lingaraj.
POKSSS convenor Ashok Kumar Pradhan said though the Government officials admitted that our demands were genuine but they were yet to take steps.
He warned that the farmers would intensify stir if the Government fails to fulfil the demands at the earliest.