TNI Bureau: Farmers of Balangir demanded for compensation and other facilities before the District Administration yesterday. The farmers demonstrated in front of the District Collector’s office under the banner of ‘Balangir Zilla Krushak Sangathan’ (BKS) and submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister containing 10 demands to support the farmers of the District.
The protesters marched to the District Magistrate’s office and demonstrated at Kacheri Chowk demanding compensation to all farmers under the National Crop Insurance Scheme and action against the banks’ employees for treating the farmers arbitrarily in the crop insurance scheme. They also demanded a minimum financial assistance of Rs. 5000 to the Cotton farmers and a lowest amount of Rs. 3000 to the sugar cane farmers along with the other demands.
The agitation was led by BKS President Arun Mishra. Mishra said to ‘The News Insight’ that, ‘We are astonished to see how come the government can do such injustice to the farmers, who actually nourish the whole society?”
According to the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister through the District Collector, Which actually the protesters handed over to the Additional District Magistrate, KBS described that farmers are working hard and the government is taking the benefit without looking into their problems. Especially, farmers of Balangir are not paid heed and they are ignored at all level.
They demanded that last year the farmers had deposited money to get the insurance amount in case the district again witnesses a drought. But due to the wrongful policy of the government they could not get the due compensation. They further demanded that due to callousness of the government and the arbitrary attitude of the banks farmers are not getting the benefit.
Again, despite Balangir this year earned a good crop, the farmers are again becoming prey of the Millers, and government and private brokers. They also warned the government of severe law and order problems in the days to come if the government continues to neglect the farmers and farming.