Amid allegations of malpractice by the State authorities and insurance companies in settling claims of farmers in various districts, the BJP on Thursday announced that it would launch an indefinite Satyagraha outside the State Assembly from Friday to flag the State Government’s neglect towards farmers and take up the farmers’ various issues.
The BJP’s move came a day after Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, in response to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s letter, wrote to the State Government stating the Centre’s prompt response in resolving the disputed crop insurance claims.
BJP State general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the Satyagraha would stress on various concerns of farmers including farm assistance, crop insurance and supply of fertilisers; and if the demands are not addressed, a State-wide agitation would be carried out.
“It is unfortunate that farmers, despite comprising a majority and significant population in the State, are in the receiving end of such neglect by the State. If the State Government does not wake up from its slumber, the BJP along with farmers will stage an indefinite strike outside the Assembly,” he said, adding that farmers are at the mercy of middlemen for resources, supply of seeds, fertilisers, etc.
“The Potato Mission failed. So did the Onion Mission. Despite that, there is no policy in place to help farmers recover from the losses. Even today, 90% of fertilisers available in the market are duplicate. Farmers don’t get loans on time. The BJD Government doesn’t even have a database of farmers,” Harichandan said.
Referring to the 2019 elections, he said the State Government had claimed to give farmers Rs 10,000 under the KALIA scheme, but is giving Rs 4,000. “Even getting timely and due crop insurance is a hassle for farmers” he added.