Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday slammed the UPA Government at the Centre for its “anti-farmers’ policy” and asked his BJD members to reach out to the grassroots level to let the people know about “the pro-farmer initiatives” of the State Government.
Addressing a workshop organised by the newly-constituted Krushi O Krushak Committee of the BJD at the party headquarters here, Patnaik was critical of the Union Government for its failure to control the rise in prices of oil and fertilisers which impacts the farm sector adversely.
On the Food Security Bill introduced in Parliament by the UPA Government, Patnaik said his party would firmly oppose it if it envisages a provision of less of ration given at present to the poor and old people. He said that as per the Bill, the family head has been taken as beneficiary and the family would get less of ration and old people would be worst-affected.
In an attempt to attract the farming community towards the BJD in the upcoming elections, Patnaik announced launching of a Health Insurance Policy for farmers’ families.The State Government has decided to introduce the health insurance policy under the Biju Krushak Kalayn Yojana for the benefit of all farmers, irrespective of APl and BPl categories, he said.
Over two crore farmers would be benefited under this policy, Patnaik said, adding that the farmers would avail of the insurance cover up to Rs 1 lakh for their treatment. In case the treatment cost goes beyond Rs 1 lakh, it would be reimbursed out of the State Treatment Fund, he said.The function was presided over by chairman of Biju Farmers’ Committee Pradeep Maharathy. Ministers, party MPs, MlAs, district presidents, and senior leaders participated in the seminar, which finalised the future programme of the committee.
The BJD Krushi O Krushak Committee would start its visit from western Odisha districts after the Winter Session of Assembly.
Among others, Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya, Agriculture Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Rural Development Minister Bikrak Arukh, Sports Minister Ramesh Majhi, BYJD president Sanjay Dasburma, party vice-president Prafulla Ghadai and MP Prasanna Patsani, addressed the seminar.