After the Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Governments have waived loans to farmers, the demand for such loan waiver is growing shriller in Odisha and the State Government is under pressure on the issue.
The Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), which is going to hold a two- hour shutdown in the State on June 16 to protest against the police firing on farmers in Madhya Pradesh recently, has demanded that the State Government waive the loans.
NKS State convenor Akshay Kumar said the reason for holding the stir is showing solidarity with the farmers of Madhya Pradesh and demanding waiver of loans of the farmers of Odisha.
In reaction, Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout said the loans of the real farmers should be waived. He has communicated his opinion in this regard to the Chief Minister.
Notably, if the farmers’ loans are waived in the State, it would cost the State exchequer `27, 636 crore. Another problem for the Government is identifying the sharecroppers. The Government is yet to arrive at a decision on a law for sharecroppers.
Earlier when asked about the issue of loan waiver, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said the Government is considering it.
