BJP Krushak Morcha national president Vijay Pal Singh Tomar on Saturday accused the Naveen Patnaik Government of preparing false reports on farmer suicides and hoodwinking the people.
“The State Government here is pressurising district officials to manipulate reports on farmer suicides. So, the district Collectors have completely negated the fact that farmers are taking their own lives due to crop loss and financial burden,” Tomar told reporters here on his return from Dhenkanal district.
Tomar said during Dhenkanal visit he interacted with some distressed farmers and also met families of some deceased peasants who have committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden.
Tomar said even as the Centre is releasing adequate funds under schemes like the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National livestock Health and Disease Control (lH & DC) programme, National Plan for Dairy Development, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Rashtriya Horticulture Mission, National livestock Management Programme, National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Health Card for farmers’ welfare and agriculture growth, the State Government has failed to utilise these assistances appropriately.
“The growing number of farmer suicides indicates that the natural resources-rich Odisha has reached a stage, for lack of perfect leadership and political will, where farmers have been forced to migrate to other States in search of jobs,” alleged Tomar.
Former Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal too expressed his displeasure over State’s handling of farmer issues.