Bhubaneswar, Feb 15: Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s massive farmer’s rally at Bargarh to address the new agriculture insurance policy, a meet of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS) on February 14 at Samata Bhavan said, the rally is nothing but a mode to promote the domestic Insurance sector, while exploiting poor farmers.
While sensitive issues like farmer suicide, expansive drought, State Government’s failure to compensate losses incurred due to widespread drought, Central Government’s indifference towards Swaminathan Commision’s proposals, reduction in investment to agricultural sector and most probably the recently launched faulty Pradhan Mantri Bima Yojana were discussed in the meet, the POKSSS has appealed to the PM to answer these predicaments.
Agricultural representatives from 11 different western Odisha districts attended this meet highlighting that the Bargarh rally’s true motive is to exploit farming communities in the name of insurance yojana and promoting the local insurance companies rather than addressing farmer’s problems.
They said the rally would be historical failure if the Government do not address current farmers issues.
The representatives also voiced similar appeal for the PM that he should make his stand clear on farmers’ suicides all across the State and the State Government’s apathetic reaction to the issue.
Meanwhile, they also asked for setting up of a Farmer’s Income Commission for creating a permanent source of income for the farming community by ensuring at least 50 per cent of the Union Budget.
While the POKSSS’s convener Lingaraj, Ashok Pradhan, representatives from Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Bargarh and others present severely criticised the Centre-State Governments and urged them to stop counter accusations and cheap rallies and concentrate on improving the agricultural sector in the State.
