Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 1: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will lead a ‘Save Farmer March’ in Bargarh district September 10 and 11 in order to draw attention to the problems of farmers in the state.
“Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Orissa for two days commencing September 10,” said Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan. “Rahulji will head a Chasi Banchao Padayatra in Bargarh district where farmers’ suicide is still a matter of concern over which the Centre as well as the state government are mum,” he added. Harichandan said crop loss and debt burden, exacerbated by a drought-like situation, were the main causes for the farmer suicides. “Through the ‘Save Farmer March’, the Congress will emphasise on the urgent need to save the distressed peasants,” the OPCC president said. Harichandan said both the Central as well as state governments have failed in addressing the plight of the farmers.
“The farmers are facing a drought situation due to scanty rainfall, but neither the Central nor the state government took any timely steps to ensure that the farmers who are facing crop loss are covered by insurance,” Harichandan said.
Harichandan also attacked the NDA government for not taking appropriate measures to ensure relief for farmers. Other programmes for the AICC vice-president are being worked out, he informed.