The BJD is so confident about the feebleness of the Opposition in the States that it conveniently trashes charges levelled by them, even if it is the highly sensitive issue of farmer suicide.
The issue is not just about drought, large-scale frustration and misery of the farmers and debt burden; it is about a saga of death as the farmers are not able to rely on the package of the Government. Every day suicides are taking place perpetuating a shocking trend.
The Opposition has been trying its best to cozy up to the farmers by crying for complete waiver of loans, extension of adequate rehab and compensation for the kin of the deceased. The Congress and BJP are also leading farmers’ rallies and gheraoing district Collector’s offices across the State demanding declaration of various districts as drought-hit. Still, the BJD Government is unfazed and the BJD leaders keep making off the cuff remarks— the latest being the ‘Amar ladoo’ by MlA Pramila Mallik.
Serial deaths of farmers should have made the Government rush for emergency measures but what is found is no BJD MlA or MP calls on the bereaved families to show their solidarity at the hour of crisis. The Chief Minister, despite having expressed deep concern over the issue, has not cared to assuage any bereaved family by visiting their houses.
The Opposition is acting on expected lines and the Government is, as usual, not prepared to budge and that is all.
Mudslinging apart, the Government and the Opposition do not seem to be concurring on the need to evolve a long term plan to fight drought and debt issue in the State. The State Government shows uncanny haste when it comes to announce bailout package for the crisis-ridden industrial sector, but it is sadly missing on permanent measures to solve the woes of the farmers. Even the Government has not made public the findings and recommendations of the Farmer Commission though it has got a report long ago.
The Government’s obsession for industrialisation led to huge transfer of farm land to the corporate bodies at the cost of farmers and farming in the State. The size of farm land has dwindled drastically over the years. Water was also allocated to the industries indiscriminately without concern for irrigation need.
On the other, the Government has not made any plan for expanding reach of irrigation and providing various sops to the farmers to boost agriculture in the State. Whatever has been done is too little. Even those farmers who still latch on to the old profession in the face of all odds have to undergo impediments in getting seed, fertilizer, farm input, cold storage, timely credit and marketing facilities. Despite tall talks, the institutional loans have not proved to be hassle-free and the banks fail to become farmer-friendly. Consequently, it is the moneylenders who grab the opportunity with both hands.
It goes without saying that there is a crying need to make special study on the handicaps besetting State’s farming scenario and find solutions for them. Needless to say, in order to be self-sufficient in food production, the State has to set a premium on agriculture and the agriculturists.