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Odisha's Farmer Crisis: BJD Slams Govt Amid Relief Delays and Protests

The BJD has strongly criticized the Odisha government's handling of farmer issues. Thousands of farmers have been excluded from paddy procurement due to technical glitches in registration. Cyclone Montha relief has been delayed, worsening the situation in affected districts. The opposition party is threatening protests if the government doesn't address these concerns immediately.

Key Points: BJD Criticizes Odisha Govt Over Farmer Exclusion Cyclone Relief

  • BJD criticizes faulty registration procedures excluding thousands of farmers
  • Farmers face long queues due to poor coordination in procurement system
  • Government accused of downplaying Cyclone Montha impact on Bargarh districts
  • Opposition warns of street protests if immediate action not taken
2 min read

BJD hits out at Odisha govt on farmer exclusion and Cyclone Montha relief delay

BJD accuses Odisha government of mismanaging paddy procurement and delaying Cyclone Montha compensation, threatening protests over farmer exclusion issues.

"The Minister seems more interested in promoting dragon fruit cultivation than resolving the plight of lakhs of paddy farmers - Lenin Mohanty"

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5

The main opposition Biju Janata Dal(BJD) on Wednesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Odisha Government, reacting to a letter written by Bargarh BJP MP Pradip Purohit to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

In his letter, Purohit urged the Chief Minister to include 5,000 farmers from his constituency who were left out of the paddy procurement registration process and also sought compensation for farmers affected by Cyclone Montha.

Speaking to IANS, Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and the party spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the BJD has repeatedly raised concerns over the exclusion of thousands of farmers from the procurement process, which the state government has failed to address. “It’s not just about 5,000 farmers. Thousands across Odisha have been left out due to faulty registration procedures and technical glitches,” he stated. He criticised the government’s handling of the paddy procurement and fertiliser distribution system, calling it “harassing and mismanaged.”

“Farmers are standing in queues for hours and even days because of poor coordination and technical hurdles. The system needs urgent reform to make it easier for cultivators,” Mohanty said. Taking a dig at the Agriculture Minister, he added, “The Minister seems more interested in promoting dragon fruit cultivation than resolving the plight of lakhs of paddy farmers in western Odisha. The government must immediately include the left-out farmers or face protests.”

Speaking on the Cyclone Montha compensation issue, Mohanty accused the government of downplaying the distress faced by the affected areas. “While certain parts of Bargarh, Kalahandi, and Nuapada were moderately hit, the government’s delayed response and lack of proper compensation have worsened the situation for farmers,” he remarked.

He further said, “Under Naveen Patnaik, Odisha transformed from a disaster-prone to a disaster-resilient state. But the present government’s inefficiency has reversed that progress. People are suffering while the administration remains indifferent.” Mohanty warned that if the government does not take immediate steps to address both the paddy procurement and cyclone compensation issues, the BJD will be forced to hit the streets in support of the state’s farmers and affected citizens.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
I'm from Bargarh district and can confirm the situation is really bad. Many farmers in our village couldn't register due to technical issues. The cyclone damage compensation is also pending for weeks. Government should act fast.
M
Michael C
While I understand the frustration, I think we should give the new government some time. They've only been in power for a few months. Changing systems takes time, but yes, farmers' issues should be priority.
S
Shreya B
Why is the Agriculture Minister focusing on dragon fruit when our traditional paddy farmers are suffering? This shows wrong priorities. Odisha's identity is linked to paddy cultivation. 🙏
A
Aman W
Technical glitches in registration process have become common in many government schemes. They should have offline options for farmers who aren't tech-savvy. Digital India shouldn't mean exclusion of rural population.
K
Kavya N
Cyclone Montha relief delay is unacceptable. When natural disasters strike, people need immediate help, not bureaucratic delays. This reminds me of how efficiently previous government handled cyclones. Hope they learn from past experiences.

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