Holding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself responsible for the farmer suicides, the BJP on Monday said the recent drought package announced by Patnaik has flaws and discrepancies.
Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra told reporters here that the number of suicide of farmers has gone up only after the announcement of the faulty drought package.
“The farmer suicide toll in the State has taken alarming proportions. In last one and a half months, about 36-40 farmers have committed suicide. Unfortunately, the rate of suicide has gone up only after the announcement of the drought package by the Chief Minister,” said Mohapatra.
To prove his point about the erroneous drought package, Mohapatra said, “The State Government has announced Rs 6,800 and Rs 13,000 financial assistance per hectare of non-irrigated and irrigated lands, respectively, in the drought-hit areas. How can non-irrigated areas get less financial assistance than the irrigated areasIJ This proves that the Government has not understood the drought situation and farmer suicides seriously.”
Mohapatra also targeted the Chief Minister for not taking a final decision on the Odisha land Reforms amendment report even though his office has received it six long months back.
If the Odisha land Reforms amendment report is accepted then sharecroppers, who are the actual farmers, would get benefit and the suicide rate would be reduced, said Mohapatra.
The State Government, Mohapatra said, had not made any contingency plan when the possibility of drought had loomed large this year due to scanty rainfall.
“It was only after the visit of the Central team that the State Government woke up from its deep slumber but sadly limited its action inside the State Secretariat,” he alleged.
Addressing the Chief Minister, Mohapatra said, “You are announcing the package, but the rate of famer suicide is going up further. Have you ever made any review on thisIJ”
The BJP opened a 24x7 helpline number o674-253886, 253887 and 9439928238 for the farmers.