'Parliament must focus on agrarian crisis'

BHUBANESWAR: Experts, including journalist Palagummi Sainath and noted academicians, discussed rural distress in India and policy concerns at a two-day national seminar organised by the public administration department of Utkal University here on Wednesday.

Sainath said, "Several parliamentary members do not understand the issue of rural distress. Our Parliament needs to have special sessions on agricultural distress. To address rural distress, it should look after the needs and entitlements of rural Indians, particularly women."

The journalist added that agricultural credit has been diverted to other sectors in the name of agri-business set up by big corporate houses. "Agriculture credit is taken away from farmers. Inequality in India is growing," he added. Water is transferred from rural to urban areas, from agriculture sector to industry and from food crops to cash crops," he further said.

Among others, PG council chairman Bramhananda Satapathy and Swarnmayee Tripathay, convenor of the seminar, also took part in the seminar. The seminar will have sessions on migration and rural distress, revitalizing rainfed agriculture among other issues.