Bid to show solidarity with the farmers over non-payment of dues for Rabi crop

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Opposition Congress held separate protest demonstrations against the Koraput district administration in Odisha in Jeypore for the same issue on Tuesday.
Although separately, both these political parties had come out to show solidarity with agitating farmers of Koraput district who are protesting against delay in payments for the Rabi crop procured from them around four months back. Koraput Zilla Krushak Manch (KZKM), an organisation of farmers of Koraput district had threatened not to cooperate in Kharif crop procurement scheduled to start from November 15 if their Rabi crop procurement payments were not made. Former State minister and present BJD spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda led the demonstration by the party’s local unit.
The Congress agitators were led by Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati. Both these political leaders had fought against each other in the last Assembly polls in Jeypore.
Both the BJD and the Congress activists held dharna and protest demonstrations at separate places in front of the office of the sub-collector at Jeypore. Both groups had peasant representatives with them. Both Mr Nanda and Mr Bahinipati were too critical of the Koraput district administration and the District Collector regarding non-payment of Rabi crop dues to farmers. Mr Bahinipati alleged that the government was protecting the Collector and asked why he had not been suspended or transferred even though the ruling party had realised his mistake.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Nanda said despite the fact that the government had released funds for payment to farmers for the procured Rabi crop, the Collector had stopped payments alleging irregularities during procurement. According to him, the government had written to the Collector for disbursement of pending dues to farmers but he did not do so. “We have decided to take up the matter with higher authorities if Koraput district administration does not pay dues to farmers as early as possible,” said Mr Nanda.
Mr Bahinipati said his party has decided to intensify agitation.
According to sources, around 1,000 farmers from Jeypore and Kundra blocks of Koraput district who had provided paddy around 72,000 quintal to the government in June this year were affected by this impasse. Even after four months, the peasants are yet to get their pending dues. Representatives of peasants had earlier met the procurer millers, sub-collector, Collector and food civil supplies secretary and minister for their Rabi crop dues. On Tuesday, Koraput Collector also held discussions with representatives of KZKM. According to leader of the organisation, Narendra Pradhan, the Collector promised that all dues of peasants would be paid by November 10.