Laikera farmers submit a memorandum to declare Laikera Block as Drought affected area

Jharsuguda : Thousands of farmers under the aegis of Maa Andhari Krushak Sangha, of Laikera Block under Jharsuguda District on Thursday took out a rally and submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through Tehsildar, demanding to declare Laikera Block a drought-affected area and to waive off the crop loans of the farmers.

In this regard, an 11-point demands memorandum was submitted which included the demands like declaring Laikera Block as Drought affected area, Waive off all Agriculture Loan, Waive off of Electricity Bill, Immediate repair of Lift Irrigation point, To provide Solar Pumpset to the farmers, to provide Subsidize seed and fertilizer for Rabi Crop, implementation of Farmer Pension Scheme etc were the few demands.

Hemant Sagar Kumura said, “Due to deficit in rainfall, our Laikera block has been badly affected So our main demand is to declare our Block as Drought affected area and to waive off Crop Loan.”

Tankadhar Naik, a Farmer said, “We want to inform the Government, that we are not at all getting benefitted with Government Scheme, the Lift irrigation present doesn’t work even the bore wells is not beneficial. There is around 500 borewell at Tilemal and Pakelpada but only a few are working and is helpful for only 10 -15 farmers. Even without an operating motor, we are getting the electricity Bill. The government scheme is good but there is no one who is effectively implementing it on the ground.”