The Odisha Nagarika Samaja (ONAS) here on Wednesday held the State Government responsible for the rising farmers’ suicides in the State.
“While more than a hundred of farmers have committed suicide in the State due to crop loss and debt burden, the State Government has not taken any remarkable step to address the farmers’ plight. Rather, it is not accepting loan burden and crop loss as the reason for farmers’ suicide,” said ONAS president Jantrana Parikhita.
At a State-level discussion organised by the ONAS here, many farmer leaders, activists and intellectuals highlighted various challenges in the agriculture sector and grounds of rising farmers’ suicide in the State. They also put forth certain recommendations to check the farmers’ suicide.
Attending as guests, former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo, BJD MP Baishnab Charan Parida and Samajwadi Party State chief Rabi Behera recommended that the Government extend financial assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) that receives `300-`400 for farmers.
“To ensure transparency, thy FCI should pay the farmers for paddy procurement by transferring the monetary amount to their accounts or through cheques directly to the peasants,” said MP Parida.
Among others, ONAS member secretary Subash Chandra Panda and joint secretary Sachikanta Pradhan were present.
