Farmers blocked NH 200 against government apathy

Movement of traffic came to a halt on NH 200 on Monday following road blockade agitation of farmers at Bhainrkhol chowck under Lakhanpur police station of Jharsuguda district. Thousands of farmers assembled on the spot to protest the government negative attitude on agriculture sector. They also decided to bring out a massive agitation incase government does not take appropriate step to protect the interest of the farmers.

“We consider farmers’ suicide deaths are having a direct link with the wrong agriculture policy of the state government. But instead of realizing the mistake, government is trying to suppress the issue by giving false statement. So we take up this agitation only to protest the government’s attitude”, Gopinath Majhi one of the convener of the agitation told.

The statement of the state agriculture minister and government officials on the farmer suicide has irked the farmers of the region. “Forget about the minister when district collector has not visited the village till date. But with out visiting or verifying the truth if they say suicide has no relation with crop loss one can understand their intension”, another convenor Jitendra Pradhan told .The agitated farmers demanded a compensation of Rs.2 lakhs to each deceased family committed suicide, amending the report of director declare Lakhanpur block as draught, consider panchayat as unit in crop insurance, waiving of loan taken in current Kharif season, free provision of seeds fertilizers and electricity for the ensuing crop, functioning of the lift points, irrigation facility from reservoir to Lakhanpur block.

“Apart from these demands, we have decided to bring out a massive agitation in Lakhanpur block of the Jharsuguda district in the near future to show the strength of the farmers of the locality”, Ananta Panda told

On the other hand political leaders including Hemananda Biswal, Suresh Pujari, local legislature Anup Sai and farmer leader Ashok Pradhan have extended their support to the agitated farmers by participating in the agitation that continued till 4 pm.