Balangir: Hundreds of farmers Monday staged a demonstration in front of the collectorate here, demanding immediate action on their long-standing demands.
Earlier in the day, the farmers under the banner of the Balangir District Krushak Mahasangha and the Nabanirmana Krushaka Sangathan, took out a procession through the town to the collectorate. They submitted a charter of demands letter addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind, through the district collector.
Their demands include release of crop insurance money for the years 2016-17 and 2017-18, increase in the minimum support price of paddy to Rs 3,000 a quintal, steps to end the seeds shortage and curbs on black-marketing of seeds.
Collector Arindam Dakua said tehsildars have been directed to take necessary steps for checking acts of seed black-marketing. There will be a discussion on this with both the state and central governments, he said.
