Odisha to request Centre again for implementation of Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations

Bhubaneswar: Amid farmers’ protest across the country opposing three farm laws, the Odisha government today decided to move the Centre again demanding implementation of the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee regarding MSP of crops. The MS Swaminathan, who chaired National Commission on Farmers, had recommended that “MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production”.

The State Cabinet meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to pass a resolution to move the Union Government reiterating its earlier stand requesting to implement the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee for doubling the farmers’ income.

The Odisha Legislative Assembly earlier passed unanimous resolutions in 2017 and again in 2018 for fixing of MSP of agricultural produce in a holistic manner.

The State Cabinet during its meeting today approved 12 proposals. Here’re the other highlights of the meeting:

• The Cabinet approved a proposal for settlement of arrear electricity dues of government department till March 31, 2020.

• A proposal on allotment of the work of 100 seated Government Medical College and Teaching Hospital at Phulbani and a 650 bedded Teaching Hospital for new Government Medical Colege at Koraput to Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Pvt Ltd was approved in the Cabinet meeting. The project is targeted to be completed in 36 months at a cost Rs 680 crore.

• The work of rural piped water supply project in Bargarh district was awarded to L&T Ltd, Chennai and KEC-Kaveri (JV), Warangal. Two proposals in this regard got the Cabinet approval.