The Odisha Jan Morcha on Tuesday alleged that the BJD Government got the Krishi Karman Award by exaggerating foodgrain production figures and thereby betrayed the farmers of the State.
“The farmers of the State have been losing crops due to natural calamities. While some of them are dying due to lack of food, malnutrition and diseases, a few are committing suicide burdened with loans.
Two months back, the National Human Rights Commission had in its report pointed out that the farmers’ problems were rising due to the Government’s wrong policy. Is not it laughable that the State Government got the Krisi Karman Award for achieving a record quantum production of 114 lakh metric tonne foodgrains in 2012-13IJ” OJM general secretary Jangeswar Babu said in a Press release.
He further alleged that the State Government has committed corruption in the paddy purchases and supplies of seeds, fertilisers and insecticides. Stating that the groundnut seeds supplied to the farmers were of very poor quality, he informed that 23 farmers committed suicide in Sambalpur district in last four years. He further informed that five farmers committed suicide in the State in just 24 days before Jan 9.