Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: Protesting the BJP-led Central government’s ‘anti-farmer’ and ‘undemocratic’ amendment to the Land Acquisition Act, a joint forum of the Orissa Krushak Sabha, Orissa Khet Mazdoor Union and Orissa Adivasi Adhikar Mancha announced staging of an agitation outside the Secretariat February 24.
A release issued by the outfits said the farm sector has been at the receiving end of sluggish economic reforms and privatisation, and added the BJP government at the Centre has added to their woes by promulgating a pro-corporate ordinance.
Prior to the amendment, the Act required a minimum consent of 80 per cent farmers to acquire land for any project. However, the Modi government reduced it to 50 per cent, paving way for ‘company raj’, the release said, adding the agitation would be intensified if the amendment was not revoked.
The compensation for landed property has now been reduced to four times of the market price from the earlier six times, and the power to grant forest rights to tribals has now been bestowed with district collectors, which earlier rested with palli and gram sabhas.
Landed properties were handed over to corporate entities by rampant mutation of graveyards, grazing fields, ponds, school land and playgrounds, the release added.
About 60 per cent of landlords are not doing farming and are instead leasing out their farmlands to Dalits, landless people and tribals for contractual farming. As a result, sharecroppers are unable to sell their produce in government mandis, leading to distress sale. Crop loss compensation is given to landlords and not the sharecroppers. The outfits demanded government recognition of sharecroppers to avoid distress sale of their produce and avail subsidised fertilizers and seeds from the government.
The outfit will stage the dharna February 24 and submit a memorandum to the revenue secretary.