An eight-hour Nabarangpur district bandh call ended successfully on Monday as various organisations, including motor vehicle associations and business establishments, overwhelmingly supported to the Bandh observed by the Nabarangpur Zila Chasi Mahasangh, a farmers’ body of the district.
Farmers obaserved the Bandh here and in rural areas to press for their demand of increasing paddy procurement limit from 12 quintals to 18 quintals per an acre of non-irrigated land and opening of more mandis (paddy procurement centres) in the district.
Shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters while vehicles remained off the roads here and at many other places in the district. The bandh was observed from 6am to 2pm. Members of the District Chamber of Commerce, Tractors Owners’ Association, Private Bus Owners’ Association, Taxi Owners’ Association, Masons’ Association and several other organisations participated in the Bandh.However, essential services were left out of the purview of the Bandh call.
“While the Government is encouraging farmers to boost production by using fertilizers and improved seeds, on the other hand it is not ready to procure produces. This is double standard and anti-farmer,” said Mahasangh leader Jhadeswar Khadanga. He said farmers have been forced to take to the streets and warned that they would intensify their agitation if the State Government does not meet their demands soon.
Meanwhile, District Collector Mohammad Sadiq Alam said paddy procurement would begin in the district in full swing from Tuesday. “As most of the officials had come here for the Mondei festival, there were some problems with procurement. Since today is the last day of the festival, officials will be heading for their places of work and everything will be in order from tomorrow,” he said.