Bhubaneswar: Inspired by the long march by Maharashtra farmers from Nashik to Mumbai, peasants in Odisha are all set to stage a very big Satyagraha Padyatra towards the capital from October 29 to November 5. The padyatra will start from Kuakhia and Baliganta simultaneously wherein thousands of farmers will march towards the Capital city.
Their demands include allocation of Rs 26,600 crore in the state budget for necessary provisions to pay pension to the tune of Rs 5,000 to each poor farmer in the state every month.
At a press conference organized in here Monday, the agitating farmers, backed by Navanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), said that they have been struggling for their rights since last eight years and they strongly condemn the state government’s negligence towards the basic rights of the farmers, including their rights like pension, prices and prestige.
Sasadev Nanda, coordinator of farmers’ body, said, “The state government is not ready to accept the fact that hundreds of farmers commit suicide every year due to debt burden. We urge the government to waive farm loan and hike the minimum support price of paddy to Rs 3,000 per quintal.”
Saubhagya Sahoo, coordinator of NKS said, “This rally is for the 36 lakh marginal and small farmers of the state. The government has to prioritise the agricultural sector by digging irrigation points and canals. The government has to create opportunities for the farmers to make agriculture a profitable business.”
Akshay Kumar, Covenor, NKS further threatened the state government stating that NKS will create an emergency like situation resulting in President’s rule in the state if the government doesn’t listen to their demands.
