Bhubaneswar: Several cold storage units from Odisha Friday went on an indefinite strike to press for their demands which include revival package from the Odisha government. The cold storage owners allege that the state government has turned a deaf ear to their demands.
The strike was called by the Odisha Cold Storage Association which has been represented by several cold storage owners from the state. The owners claim that in the absence of adequate attention to the alleged sick units, the sector is destined to die an untimely death. The association has demanded that the state, like West Bengal, should support the farmer support units through packages.
The association members claimed that all cold storage units in Odisha remained shut Friday and went on an indefinite strike until their demands are met by the state government. The association has been demanding for a grant of Rs 2 crore as revival package for 5000MT cold storages and waiver of outstanding term Loan among others.
Janardhan Sahoo, Secretary of the association said, “From today all the cold storages in Odisha would remain shut. Neglecting this industry would not only ruin the promoter, create a bad asset for the financer and paralyse the infrastructure for the state, but would also adversely affect the farmer community. Around 40 lakh farmers are scheduled to be affected by the strike,”
The association said that they want the state government to consider the demands of a revival package, credit linkage at low rate of interest (3% p.a) for both term loan and working capital, unconditional electricity subsidy at 50%, storage rental subsidy to farmers/traders, seed production and distribution through cold storage promoters, formation of farmer producer groups through cold storage promoters, research boost in potato production and engaging technical and qualified post harvest management staff for monitoring.
The association alleged that cold storage sector has undergone huge losses in the past four years for which they are on the verge of sickness including the ones created during the Potato Mission. The main reason of this had been the failure of State Potato Mission, they claimed. The association had earlier made several representations before state government departments but they are yet to get any relief.
PNN