JAMANKIRA (Sambalpur): Thousands of farmers under the banner of Milita Jamankira Block Krushak Surakhya Sangathan (MJBKSS) resorted to civil disobedience movement here today demanding drought-hit status for the block and loan waiver.
More than 10,000 farmers from across the block assembled at Veterinary Hospital Ground here from the morning and took out a rally led by convenor of Paschim Orissa Krushak Samanwaya Samiti (POKSS) Ashok Pradhan which culminated on the premises of Jamankira block office.
Earlier, the members of MJBKSS had locked all the 21 gram panchayat offices across the block protesting the ‘lackadaisical’ attitude of the government.
The eight farmers’ bodies owing allegiance to MJBKSS, who were continuing their relay hunger strike in front of Jamankira block office for the last 43 days over the demands, called it off at the request of the participants of the civil disobedience movement.
Although drought stalks all the blocks in the district, Jamankira is the worst hit.
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan informed that of 223 drought-affected villages, in 133 villages the crop loss has been 75 per cent and above while in 90 villages the crop loss has been estimated between 50 per cent and 74 per cent by the district administration.
“Yet, the State Government was reluctant to declare the block as drought-hit,” he alleged.
Pradhan threatened to intensify the agitation if the government did not declare the block as drought-hit at the earliest.