22 lakh farmers yet to receive crop insurance in Odisha: LoP Mishra

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 24:

Following a series of demonstrations by farmers across the state demanding crop insurance and input subsidy, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra today took up the issue in the House and said that as many as 22 lakh farmers of the state are yet to receive crop insurance.

“The State Government has cheated the farmers of the state. They are yet to receive the Rs 100 per quintal paddy bonus promised by the Chief Minister at the Sohela farmers’ convention,” Mishra added stepping up his attack further.

While the opposition targeted the government over the issue, Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout put the blame on Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Directorate of Economics and Statistics.

“The reports of the SRC and Statistics Department did not match. A high level committee was formed to address this issue. They reviewed the data of all 27 districts in question. It took some time to compile the data. I think, we will start distributing the amount in two-three weeks,” said Minister Rout speaking to reporters today.

It may be mentioned here that after demonstrations in Sambalpur, Bargarh and Kalahandi in last two days, farmers of Boden in Nuapada district today took out a rally demanding input subsidy and crop insurance.

“The farmers of Boden are yet to receive the drought compensation for year 2015-16 and the input subsidy. We have been protesting since last three days and it is only going to be intensified further until our demands are met,” said Hiralal Majhi, Convenor of Jami Jangal Mukti Andolan.

“We have already distributed some of the input subsidy based on the instruction we received from the government. Some of the farmers could not produce necessary documents. Neither do we have any record on them. That is why, according to the law, we could not give them the subsidy,” said Bhagirathi Mallick, Tehsildar of Boden.