Balangir: In a major political demonstration in Bolangir, a massive rally and protest meeting was organized under the guidance of Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik to address the grievances of the farming community.
The event was led by Bolangir MLA Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo alongside District President Saroj Meher, drawing thousands of farmers to voice their concerns over the current state of paddy procurement.
Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo spearheaded the movement as the BJD intensified its criticism of the BJP government for failing to meet its electoral promises. The party highlighted that while the BJP promised a procurement price of Rs. 3,100 per quintal and 48-hour payments via DBT, the reality in Odisha has been marked by mismanagement and a procurement rate of only 57% of the target. During the proceedings, a formal demand letter addressed to the Governor was submitted through the Collector to seek immediate intervention.
When Odisha’s paddy procurement situation is compared with neighbouring Chhattisgarh, the pathetic condition of Odisha becomes clearly evident. Farmers in the state are today being forced to take to the streets. However, state ministers are insulting the farming community by making irresponsible remarks, alleged Shri Singh Deo.
The protest saw significant participation from senior party leadership, including State Mahila BJD President Smt. Snehangini Churia, former Minister Tukuni Sahu, District Council President Debaki Sahu, and Municipal President Lika Sahu. These leaders supported the call for concrete solutions, such as the removal of the 150-quintal ceiling for input subsidies and the immediate lifting of all paddy currently lying in mandis. The BJD warned that if these issues are not resolved promptly, the party will continue to take to the streets to protect the interests of Odisha’s traditional paddy cultivators.
In fact regarding the alarming situation arising from paddy procurement in the state, after the former Chief Minister and President of the Biju Janata Dal, Shri Naveen Patnaik, wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing deep concern and urging immediate steps to resolve the issue, the BJD today strongly criticized the state government.
Due to massive mismanagement in paddy procurement, the process has come to a standstill midway. While the target for Kharif paddy procurement was fixed at 73 lakh metric tonnes, only 41.96 lakh metric tonnes, just 57%, has been procured so far. Out of a total of 19,66,181 registered farmers in the state, only 9,65,546 farmers, i.e., merely 49%, have been able to sell their paddy till now. On the other hand, while the target in neighbouring Chhattisgarh was fixed at 80 lakh metric tonnes, procurement of 140 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has already been completed.