Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Appeals to CM Mohan Majhi for Fair Compensation to Farmers
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Bhubaneswar, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reached out to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, urging him to ensure that farmers receive adequate compensation for the crop losses stemming from unseasonal rains that impacted the state last month.
Patnaik emphasized the importance of providing timely advisories related to significant weather changes, which would assist farmers in mitigating losses caused by natural disasters.
"I reiterate that the Government of Odisha must take the plight of our farmers very seriously and initiate a thorough inquiry followed by prompt compensation. Additionally, timely government advisories regarding weather updates should be issued moving forward," wrote the BJD leader.
Recently, on December 30 and 31, 2024, Patnaik toured several districts including Ganjam, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara, where he met with farmers who faced significant losses due to the unseasonal rains.
In his correspondence, Patnaik noted that farmers and their families are experiencing severe distress due to the extensive damage inflicted on both paddy and non-paddy crops during the critical harvesting period.
During his visit to Jagatsinghpur district, he also met the family of Krutibas Swain, a young farmer from Balikuda Block, who reportedly took his own life on December 30 after being unable to cope with the crop loss. Patnaik described this tragic incident as deeply troubling.
Patnaik recounted that farmers shared their stories of hardship during his recent visits to affected areas, asserting that such a dire situation has not been seen in recent times.
The farmers of Odisha and their families are facing a significant calamity that has shattered their confidence.
"In light of these circumstances, I urge the government to diligently work towards providing timely and sufficient compensation to restore farmers' confidence," added Patnaik.
Farmers expressed concerns about not receiving timely updates on the rain's severity due to late government advisories, and many areas have yet to undergo crop damage assessments, according to former CM Patnaik.
Highlighting the party’s demand for special category status, Patnaik stated that had Odisha been classified as a special category state, the farmers' families would have received much-needed additional support, which could have restored their confidence in a timely manner.
"This is why the BJD will continue to advocate for the special category status for Odisha," concluded the Leader of Opposition.
Importantly, CM Majhi, along with Deputy CMs KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, and Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, also visited various districts on Sunday to assess the crop damage caused by the unseasonal rainfall.
