Odisha Cong demands immediate payment of paddy farmers' dues in Nabarangapur

Bhubaneswar, Jun 10 (PTI) The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Tuesday demanded immediate release of dues worth around “Rs 4.41 crore” of farmers in Raighar block of Nabarangapur district.

OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das claimed that 344 farmers of Raighar block sold over 14,000 quintals of paddy to the government about four months back, “but their payment is pending”.

“Tomorrow, the BJP government is going to complete one year in office in Odisha. Before holding celebrations, it should release the dues of farmers,” he told reporters here.

Similarly, the farmers of Ganjam who suffered crop loss, are “waiting to get their insurance money”, Das said.

The Congress leader said more than 1.45 lakh farmers of Ganjam district have paid crop insurance premium of Rs 84 crore to a private company engaged by the government.

“However, after the farmers faced crop loss, the insurance company has not paid their dues,” he alleged.

The state government should intervene in the matter and direct the concerned insurance firm to make the payment, Das said.

He also claimed that several farmers in Angul district, who suffered crop damage due to elephant activities, are awaiting compensation. PTI BBM RBT