KalingaTV News Network
Bargarh: Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday met the family members of Brunda Sahu, a farmer of Kalapani village in Bargarh district, who committed suicide on Novmber 1, a day before he had set his pest-affected paddy crops on fire.
The Minister talked to the grieved family members on account of recent pest attack. Rajesh, son of late Brunda Sahu, however asked the Minister to help their family in this time of crisis.
“Hundreds of leaders from different political parties including legislators have been coming to our home after my father committed suicide. However, we are yet to receive any help from the government or others. Please help my family in this time of crisis,” Rajesh asked the Union Minister.
Earlier on the day, Shekhawat visited many parts of the district to take stock of the pest affected paddy crops and other farmers’ issues. Odisha BJP’s legislature party leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, State BJP President Basant Panda accompanied the Minister during the visit.
Recently, farmers of Bargarh, Jharsuguda , Nuapada, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Rayagada districts in the state set their crops on fire on acres and acres of paddy fields as they could not stop the attack of brown plant hopper pest. As many as nine farmers have ended their lives over crop loss due to pest attack in last few weeks.
However, the Odisha government has already announced a package of 124 crore rupees for the farmers affected by pest attack in different areas of the state during this Kharif season.
Ms Kalinga