BHUBANESWAR: A delegation of BJP Krushak Morcha’s State unit on Wednesday met Governor MC Bhandare, seeking his intervention for protection of the farmers community which has been utterly neglected by the State Government.
Submitting a memorandum to the Governor, the Krushak Morcha delegation led by president Maheswar Sahu alleged that the Government was doing nothing to save the distressed farmers burdened with agricultural loans. While more than 200 farmers have allegedly committed suicide due to crop loss and increasing loan burden, the Government is not coming to their rescue, he added.
The Morcha demanded Rs 5 lakh solatium to each of the bereaved families who lost their primary bread earners and a Government job to one of the eligible members.
While 18 districts of the State have received 40 to 80 per cent less than the normal rainfall and facing imminent danger of sprouting blight, the Morcha apprehended more loss of life if the Government failed to take contingency measures.
The delegation also expressed concern over lack of credit support from nationalised banks for farm activities and non-payment of compensation to the farmers who suffered loss in the untimely rains last year.
Addressing mediapersons before meeting the Governor, Sahu alleged massive corruption in the supply of certified seeds to the farmers for kharif crops. Certified paddy seeds supplied to the farmers have failed to germinate at many places, he added.
The Government also has not been able to meet the demand for fertilisers. He further alleged that Government agencies in connivance with unscrupulous traders have created an artificial scarcity of chemical fertilisers.
Agricultural programmes under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) too have failed to take off due to mismanagement. Central assistance provided under the programme is parked in a private bank in clear violation of the Government rules, the Morcha president said.