Farmers’ convention in Dec last week: Cong

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) will organise a farmers convention in the Capital in the last week of December to protest the neglect of farm sector by the Centre and State Government leading to suicide by farmers.Announcing this here on Tuesday, OPCC president Prasad Harichandan alleged that farmers and the farm sector have been seriously affected due to neglect by both the governments. Criticising the State Government for its failure to implement the `1000 crore package announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last year, Harichandan said every week at least five farmers are committing suicide.

Harichandan also criticised the Centre for its refusal to hike the minimum support price (MSP) on paddy to `3000 per quintal. Though crop has been damaged in 15 lakh hectares because of drought, pest attack and unseasonal rains, the State Government has assessed crop loss only in 9 lakh hectares as result of which many affected farmers have not received any assistance, he said and demanded that the Government should pay additional assistance of ` 500 per quintal of paddy to the farmers besides MSP.

The OPCC president also demanded that the input subsidy paid to the farmers should be increased to `30,000 per hectare for irrigated crop field and `15,000 per hectare for non-irrigated field.Harichandan criticised the State Government for the rising crime against women in Odisha. Stating that the State Government is trying to suppress the Kunduli gang-rape incident, he announced that the Congress will massive demonstration at Kunduli on December 7 against the State Government. Former MP Pradip Majhi and party MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria said the agitation will continue till the victim gets justice. The OPCC chief also demanded that the Itishree murder case be reopened.