Human chain in Odisha’s Bolangir to press demand for agri varsity

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Balangir, Jan 23:

Residents of the western Odisha town of Balangir today formed a human chain demanding setting up of an agriculture university here.

Members of as many as 105 organisations, clubs, school and college students among other prominent personalities took out a rally under the aegis of Krishi Viswavidyalala Kriyanusthan Committee (KVKC)  pressing their demand.

The demand for setting up an agriculture university in Balangir was genuine as it was a poor and migration-prone district, convenor of the committee Pramod Mishra said.

“Farmers need to have knowledge on use of modern technology to upgrade their farming practices and making it a profitable livelihood. The government should listen to people’s voice of the district. Today’s human chain showed the extent of public support for the issue,” he added.

The committee had organised several consultation meetings and also put up demonstrations in front of the collectorate to create public awareness on the issue.

Earlier, BJD leader A U Singhdeo had written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in which he had stated that Balangir is a backward district in the KBK region. The per capita income of the people of the district is very low. Since agriculture is the main source of income for the people of the district, there is a need for some proactive initiative from the government for its development and an agriculture university would serve it to a large extent, he had said in the letter.