Farmers’ plight takes centre stage in Odisha byelection 

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik announced ₹200 cr. input assistance soon after Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar instructed insurance companies to settle crop insurance claims 

Farmers’ plight took the centre stage in the coming Padmapur byelection as Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced input assistance of about ₹200 crore for the drought-affected areas of the State. This comes a day after BJP candidate Pradip Purohit withdrew from filing his nomination papers citing unfulfilled farmers’ demands.

The entire expenditure for input assistance would be borne by the State government, Mr. Patnaik said. The byelection for Padmapur Assembly in Bargarh district would be held on December 5. It was necessitated following death of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Bijay Singh Bariha.

While the BJP has nominated Pradip Purohit as its candidate, the ruling BJD chose Barsha Bariha, elder daughter of the late Bariha. The Congress proposed name Satya Bhushan Sahu as its candidate.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, about 2,63,560 hectares of crop land in 64 blocks and 15 Urban Local Bodies of 12 districts have suffered crop loss of 33% and above. “So far, many of the affected farmers have not yet received their crop insurance dues despite continuous follow-up and pursuance by the State government with the technical advisory committee under the Union Ministry of Agriculture of Farmers Welfare,” Mr. Patnaik pointed out.

In this context, considering the gravity of the situation, demands of the affected farmers and crop loss reports by the Collectors, the Chief Minister decided to provide assistance out of the State’s own resources, the CMO informed.

The Collectors of the affected districts have been directed to submit the requirement of funds to Special Relief Commissioner and appropriate steps would be taken for immediate disbursement of assistance. It is estimated that about ₹200 crore would be disbursed to overcome the distress of the farmers.

The announcement came soon after Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar tweeted, “I had a discussion with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today regarding the insurance claim being given in Jharbandha, Padampur, Paikmal blocks of Bargarh district of Orissa.”