BHUBANESWAR: With the farmers' suicide continuing unabated and no urgency shown to tackle the drought, Congress today took the issue to the Governor criticising the state government for its failure to deal with the situation.
Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra met Governor SC Jamir at the Raj Bhavan here and discussed with him about the drought situation, reported starvation deaths in different parts of the State and farmers' suicide.
Mishra said that though more than 150 farmers have taken their lives due to loan burden and crop loss, the State Government is yet to acknowledge the fact. The state government which investigated into reasons behind the suicides in each of the cases jointly by the district collectors and superintendents of police, attributed reasons other than crop loss and loan burden for the suicide by farmers.
Referring to the claim of the state government it is providing assistance to the share croppers since 2011, the leader of the opposition said it cannot be done as per the provisions of the Odisha Land Reforms (OLR) Act.
Mishra said as per the Act, no person can give his land for share cropping. While the Act has such provisions, how the State Government claimed to have given assistance to share croppers, he asked and demanded that the OLR Act should be amended. Unless the Act is amended, not a single share cropper can get any assistance, Mishra said and demanded strong action against officials who have misled the government in this regard.
The leader of the Opposition alleged though the state government has announced a Rs.1000 crore package for the farmers, it is yet to reach them. Mishra said that the Governor expressed grave concern over farmers' suicide and drought situation. Governor's office is receiving information on farmers' suicide every day, he said.