Bhubaneswar: Odisha unit of BJP’s Krushak Morcha has demanded CBI probe into large scale embezzlement of Central fund for the state’s farmers.
In a memorandum to Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Kailash Choudhury, the BJP’s state president of Krushak Morcha Maheswar Sahu alleged that more than 12,000 farmers have committed suicide during BJD rule in Odisha in the last 24 years. At least 3 farmers took their own lives in November due to crop loss caused by drought-like situation.
“The farmers are forced to take the extreme step as the Central fund sanctioned for various farm welfare schemes has failed to reach them due to its embezzlement in the state,” he said.
Stating that Odisha farmers, who mainly depend on paddy crop, have been subjected to exploitation by various forces for lack of adequate cold storages and irrigation facilities. “The state government had announced to open paddy procurement centres or mandis from November 1. But not a single mandi has been opened till date forcing the farmers to desperate sale of their produce at Rs 1300-1400 per quintal against MSP of Rs 2,183,” he added.
Sahu further claimed that the rice millers were taking advantage of the situation and exploiting the farmers. “While the mills do not have any equipment or technician to test the quality of paddy, the millers were cutting the paddy cost of 5-10 kg per quintal on the plea of poor quality. The millers have practically monopolised the procurement and processing of paddy crop in the state,” he added.
Alleging that the state government officials and BJD leaders were hands in glove with the millers in embezzlement of the Central fund for farmers’ welfare, Sahu demanded CBI investigation to bring the wrongdoer to the books.
Sahu led a delegation of Krushak Morcha to the Union Minister and submitted the memorandum in a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.
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