BJP slams farmers’ package; seeks Rs 10, 000 as minimum aid

OST Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Oct 23:

Accusing the Chief Minister of announcing a special package for farmers without proper assessment of the loss suffered by them due to Phailin and the floods that followed, the BJP today demanded that the minimum assistance to the affected farmers should be Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 2000 as announced by the government.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP legislative party leader Jayanarayan Mishra said the government should provide Rs 15,000 per hectare for rain-fed areas, Rs 30,000 per hectare for assured irrigation and Rs 45,000 per hectare for perennial crops.

Notably, the government has announced per hectare subsidy of Rs 4500 for rain fed areas, Rs 9000 for assured irrigation areas and Rs 12,000 for perennial crops.

The BJP leader also demanded interest free loan for farmers for this financial year. “The moratorium on recovery of existing short term loans should be extended. The repayment time should be extended and staggered. The stand of the government to conduct crop cutting experiment for claim settlement is ridiculous. The entire crop of the affected farmers should be included under crop insurance scheme. Pulse kits should be distributed to them free. The Government should ensure high quality seeds to all farmers,” he said.

Mishra also demanded that farmers who have lost milch and draught animals (cow) should be assisted with an amount of Rs 25, 000 and adequately compensated for loss of sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.

The Government should also ensure remission of basic water rate and cess on land revenue in the entire affected areas. The Government must procure discoloured rice (because of unexpected rain) from the farmers at a minimum support price, said the BJP leader.

The BJP also reiterated its demand for revision of the State Relief Code for inclusion of agricultural sectors like Kewda, Coconut, Orchard, handloom, handicraft etc on a permanent basis.