MP Baijayant Panda Meets Farmers and Assures Relief Against Crop Loss

MP Baijayant Panda Meets Farmers and Assures Relief Against Crop Loss

Unseasonal and heavy rains in Odisha caused massive crop losses in December, allegedly leading to the deaths of seven farmers within a week. Reports indicate some farmers either took their own lives or died of shock after witnessing their harvest and paddy procurement ruined by the rains.

In the most recent case, a farmer from Sarana village under Balikuda police station in Jagatsinghpur district took his own life on Monday allegedly due to pressure and shock from crop loss. The deceased, identified as Krutibas Swain, had gone to harvest paddy along with his brother and crumbled to grief over the large-scale loss of crops. After returning home in the evening, he reportedly hanged himself inside the house.

Police investigated the incident but made no comments. Earlier, on December 28, two farmers died in separate cases: Manibhadra Mohanty from Jajpur reportedly collapsed after seeing his ruined crops, while Daitari Jena, a sharecropper from Kendrapara, allegedly took his life by consuming pesticide.

BJP National Vice-President and Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda today visited several farmlands along with the district Collector and administrative officials to take stock of the crop loss situation in Jajanga area. He assured farmers that the Odisha government is working to provide compensation for crop losses.

“Both the Centre and the State are concerned about the farmers. Today, I visited the farmlands damaged due to unseasonal rains in various parts of Kendrapara and held discussions with the farmers. I also discussed with the District Collector and District Agriculture Officer how our affected farmers could get help as soon as possible. I request all the farmers to register their complaints related to damage on toll-free number 14447 by January 1,” tweeted MP Baijayant Panda.

Earlier, the Odisha Government had granted two extra days to the farmers to complete their registration process for compensation claims. The deadline for registration has been extended until midnight on January 1.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Monday informed that adequate compensation will be provided to all affected farmers, including those who grow crops other than paddy.