Nayagarh: Hundreds of farmers of eight blocks of Nayagarh district have accused the horticulture department of cheating and letting them down.
The angry farmers confronted Agriculture Minister Sashi Bhushan Behera during his visit to the district and narrated their ordeal. The farmers demanded immediate steps in this connection within a week.
Going through the complaints of the farmers, the minister directed the administration officials to hold a meeting with the farmers and solve the issues within one week.
According to sources, farmers of eight blocks were provided with palm saplings by the horticulture department under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in fiscal 2016-17.
At that time, the farmers were assured that they would be given Rs 2.5 lakh aid per hectare for three years. However, when they were given a mere Rs 20,000 and included in a different scheme known as MIT, the farmers felt cheated.
“First, they had said that they would provide Rs 2.5 lakh for three years under MGNREGS. However, they ignored after giving Rs 20,000 and said that the work was under MIT. Believing them, we toiled day and night for three years and they cheated us. Who will toil day and night for Rs 20,000 for three years,” a farmer said.
Demanding justice, the farmers asked the minister to take appropriate steps in this regard. Meanwhile, the officials claimed that it was government rule.
Earlier, the farmers had picketed the Deputy Director of Horticulture office, October 3, 2018. Back then, DDH Bhagirathi Pradhan had assured that steps would be taken in one week. However, no steps were taken.
Again, the farmers gheraoed the DHH office November 8, only to be left ignored again by the officials.
“The Horticulture Department is not working for the better of our farmers, but discouraging and letting us down. Had we been included in MGNREGS, the department would have paid us Rs 2.5 lakh in three years. But, they slyly put us in MIT scheme,” farmers Narayan Behera, Santosh Kumar Sahu, Gourang Pradhan and others said.
First, the officials lure farmers to take up work orders and later bungle all the assistance money and turn deaf when approached for help. This has left farmers of eight blocks in distress, the farmers complained. They alleged the administration is least bothered and not taking any steps in this regard.
After coming to know of the visit of the minister, farmers approached him and narrated their ordeal. After hearing the plight of the farmers, the minister assured them to resolve the matter within a week after talks with the officials concerned.
When contacted, DHH Pradhan assured to look into the plight of the farmers and take necessary steps as per government norms.
PNN