The Opposition Congress on Friday alleged that the State Government has failed to effect development in farm sector and provide required support to farmers, due to which incidents of farmers’ suicide are increasing in the State.
“Incidents of farmers’ suicide are on the rise as the NDA Government at the Centre and the BJD Government here have failed to provide support to farmers,” Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said while participating in an Adjournment Motion debate in the State Assembly.
Mishra said had the State Government created irrigation facilities and waived farm loans the cases of farmers’ suicide would have been checked.
He alleged that BJP members have no concern for farmers and are only shedding crocodile tears for them. “The Union Government has fixed minimum support price of Rs 1,830 for a quintal of paddy when a farmer spends over Rs 2,400 to produce an equal quantum of the crop. When the issue of farmers is being discussed, BJP members are not participating,” he said.
He alleged that efforts are being made to encourage farmers to commit suicide in the State.
Mishra demanded that the Government provide Rs 10 lakh to family of each deceased farmer, who has committed suicide. Another Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati too slammed both the Governments for rising farmer suicides.
In the meantime, BJP members were protesting in the House against passing of the first Special Supplementary Expenditure sans participation of Opposition members on Thursday.
Even though, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patra called BJP members to participate in the debate, none of them was in the seat.
BJD member Prafulla Samal refuted the charges made by the Congress members saying the State Government has undertaken many programmes and schemes to provide livelihood support to farmers.
In his reply, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Dr Arun Kumar Sahoo said the State Government is all committed for development of farming and farmers.
“The allegations of farmers committing suicide due to crop loss and loan burden are not based on facts. District Collectors and SPs have conducted each case,” said Sahoo.
He said the Government has introduced a special Agriculture Budget and the budget amount has been increased from Rs 7,161.84 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 20,741 in 2019-20. He said farmers are being provided Rs 5,000 per a crop season under the KALIA Yojana, besides many other supports.