In the backdrop of farmer suicides allegedly due to crop loss, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced crop loan at one per cent interest and a provision of drought assistance of Rs 100 per quintal of paddy for affected peasants in 21 districts.
Patnaik made these announcements while addressing a BJD farmers rally at Sohela in Bargarh district, where maximum number of farmers have committed suicide allegedly due to crop loss and debt burden.
Patnaik said the peasants of Odisha had faced challenges like the super cyclone of 1999, cyclone Phailin in 2013 and cylone Hudhud last year with courage and "me and my government are with the farmers".
"This time too the farmers will display their courage and face the challenges caused due to drought situation," Patnaik said, adding, his government has sanctioned a Rs 1,000 crore drought package.
"(Of this amount) not a single rupee has been received from the Centre. The entire Rs 1,000 crore package is borne by the state government," the Chief Minister said.
Patnaik said the package has provisions like exemption of water cess in drought hit area, extension of kharif loan tenure, action against money lenders, 200 man days under MGNREGA with 30 per cent excess wages and others.
He said the government will arrange for crop loan at one per cent interest and drought assistance of Rs 100 per qunital of paddy loss for affected peasants in 21 districts.
On the immediate action taken by the state government to tackle the drought situation, Patnaik said work for the mega lift irrigation project near Indravati river in Kalahandi district will begin within 15 days.
He also announced Aung Medium Irrigation Project worth Rs 1500 crore and Jeera Medium Irrigation Project (Rs 300 crore) to enhance the irrigation potential in Bargarh district. "Special feeders will be set up for irrigation projects soon," he said.
About long term measures for tackling drought, the chief minister announced a Rs 35,000 crore package for western Odisha districts to be spent in five years.
"About 80 per cent of Rs 35,000 crore will be spent on agriculture in western region and Rs 8,000 crore meant alone for irrigation facility improvement. This effort will free western region from drought for all time to come," Patnaik said.
Assuring the farmers, Patnaik said there would be no
shortage of funds for development of agriculture. "My government has always been giving emphasis on agriculture," he said.
Ridiculing the opposition for their "attempt" to derive political mileage from the farmers' crisis, Patnaik said, "We believe in work and not in words. Our programmes are not confined to holding press conferences like opposition parties. BJD is with the farmers while opposition tries to break the confidence of peasants."
Stating that press conferences would not solve the farmers' crisis, he asked opposition parties to stop "shedding crocodile tears" over the farmers plights.
Referring to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's rally in September, Patnaik said, "The farmers plight is not solved by undertaking 'padayatra' on television cameras. The opposition will not succeed in their bid to mislead the farmers against the state government."
He told the gathering how the successive central governments have ignored his demand of special category status for Odisha even as the state is frequently hit by natural calamities like drought, flood and cyclone.
"The then Prime Minister forgot the people of Odisha when the state was hit by calamities like Phailin and Hudhud. Central leaders do visit the state when there are elections. But, I have been all along with you and will remain with you till the end," Patnaik said.
Interestingly, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy, Revenue minister Bijayshree Routray and Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout remained absent at the farmers rally here.
Apprehending trouble from the opposition Congress and BJP supporters during the rally, the police detained former MLAs Nihar Mahananda, Sadhu Nepak (both Congress), Jaynarayan Mishra (BJP), prominent farmer leader Lingaraj and about 100 activists ahead of the rally.
