The Navnirman Krishak Sangathan (NNKS), a social organisation fighting for the rights of farmers in the State, would hold a 10-day long Krushak Chetana Padayatra in Jajpur district starting from November 9 to make the people aware about farmers’ plight in the district.
later, the Sangathan would hold a rally and convention of the farmers on November 21 in Balashram ground near Collectorate office of Jajpur. After the convention, the farmers’ body would again intensify its campaign ‘price, prestige and pension for farmers’ in the State.
According to NNKS convener Akshaya Kumar, around 10,000 farmers would attend the rally on the issues of `5,000 per month to every farmer as pension and `5,000 support price for one quintal of paddy. “Hope the huge demonstration by farmers may breach State’s callousness and will show a new dimension to the pro-people politics,” said Kumar.
Kumar said lack of basic facilities like irrigation, cold storages, godowns, market system and proper price for the agricultural products left farmers of the State in lurch. Due to lack of proper infrastructure and Government’s comprehensive agricultural policy, hundreds of farmers commit suicide every year, he added.
The Sangathan has requested interested activists to attend the Padyatra and the rally. It also asked help from farmer leaders, organisations, social activists and intellectuals to build the strength of the movement.