BJD warns of stir over Centre’s ‘anti-farmer insurance policies’

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: As the BJD and BJP have locked horns over farmer points, the ruling celebration on Monday introduced a State-wide agitation in opposition to the anti-farmer insurance policies of the Centre. The determination got here a day after the BJP sounded its plans for holding an enormous rally in Sambalpur on January 21 over irregularities in paddy procurement and the demand for withdrawal of the token system.

BJD leaders together with authorities deputy chief whip Rohit Pujari, former minister Snehangini Chhuria and Rajendra Dholakia alleged that the Centre has determined to not carry parboiled rice by Food Corporation of India (FCI) and held again launch of subsidy of about `6,040 crore which is placing a extreme monetary burden on the State. They threatened State-wide agitation if corrective measures usually are not taken throughout the subsequent seven days.

They threatened that farmers will descend on the streets, if the demand for lifting 31 lakh tonne paddy of principally parboiled rice for 2020-21 just isn’t accepted by the Centre/FCI inside per week. “The BJD will support and stand by the farmers. We hope better sense prevails in the BJP and instead of shedding crocodile tears here, the party raises its voice against this injustice meted out to Odisha farmers,” the leaders mentioned.

Stating {that a} determined BJP is fearful by the rising reputation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after he inaugurated the mega carry irrigation undertaking in Kalahandi and unveiled different steps to spice up agriculture productiveness in Western Odisha final week, they mentioned that the saffron celebration won’t achieve deceptive the folks. “People of Odisha know that while BJD stands with the farmers, the BJP works against their interest,” they mentioned.

The BJD leaders mentioned within the 2020-21 kharif season, about 35.49 lakh tonne paddy has been procured and about 30 lakh tonne extra might be purchased taking the full procurement to 65 lakh tonne. In the rabi season, one other 17 lakh tonne might be procured, taking the full procurement in Odisha throughout the yr to 82 lakh tonne.

They mentioned that out of this, 55 lakh tonne rice, principally parboiled, might be obtained. While 24 lakh tonne might be consumed in Odisha, 10 lakh tonne, as per the latest letter from the Centre might be procured by the FCI and the remaining 21 lakh tonne rice estimated at Rs 7,350 crore won’t be lifted.

The BJD leaders launched a letter from Satyaprakash Panda, AGM(Procurement) FCI to Vir Vikram Yadav, Secretary within the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare division wherein he mentioned on account of estimated bumper procurement, there may be chance of glut of 185 lakh tonne parboiled rice inventory throughout the nation, thereby, choking its motion/disposal for years. 

“In view of the above, it is required to give maximum delivery of raw rice to the extent of 50 per cent of the original estimates. It is also intimated that FCI will not be in a position to accept any surplus parboiled rice during rabi season 2020-21,” the letter mentioned.