Cong reiterates demand for farm loan waiver

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), on Friday, reiterated its demand for waiver of farm loans and announced that it would launch a State-wide agitation to protect the interest of farmers.

Criticising the State Government for avoiding the issue of loan waiver despite repeated demands, OPCC president Prasad Harichandan said farmers are passing through a difficult time because of drought, pest attack and unseasonal rains. “Though farmers are committing suicide because of crop loss and loan burden, it is unfortunate that the Government is yet to admit this,” he said.

Alleging that both, the State and Central governments, have failed to fulfil the promises made to farmers, Harichandan said announcement of Rs 100 bonus per quintal is yet to be paid. Referring to input subsidy announced by the State Government, Harichandan said farmers who have been affected are yet to be identified as the Government officials are preparing lists without visiting the field.

Harichandan criticised both the governments for their failure to implement the Prime Minister’s crop insurance scheme as a result of which lakhs of farmers were deprived of any benefit from this. About 19 lakh farmers were included in the scheme after paying premium of  Rs 150 crore to insurance companies, he said and added that the State Goverment had also made a provision of Rs 500 crore under the scheme.

However, the affected farmers will be deprived of getting Rs 7,500 crore compensation because of the State Government and Centre inefficiency, he said.