BHUBANESWAR: With the farmers’ suicide continuing unabated and no urgency shown to tackle the drought, Congress on Thursday 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 the drought situation, reported starvation deaths in different parts of the State and farmers’ suicide.
Mishra said 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 Government, which investigated into reasons behind the suicides jointly through district Collectors and Superintendents of Police, attributed reasons other than crop loss and loan burden to the farm deaths.
Referring to the claim of the Government that it is providing assistance to share croppers since 2011, the Leader of the Opposition said it cannot be done as per the provisions of 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 can the State Government claim 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 that though the Government has announced a `1000 crore package for farmers, it is yet to reach them. Mishra said the Governor expressed grave concern over farmers’ suicide and drought situation. Governor’s office is receiving information on farmers’ suicide every day, he said.