Jamenkira: farmers ups in arms against government

More than 10 thousand farmers have assembled in Jamenkira (50 away from Sambalpur and located on NH 6) on Monday to extend their support to the agitating farmers sitting on relay hunger strike over the past 43 days demanding their block area to be declared draught-hit. They entered the block office breaking the police cordon and locked both block office and tahasil office located in one premises. Police later declared them arrested.

The fury of the farmer was quite visible during the agitation following the government’s silence over their demand despite their agitation of relay hunger strike that reached on 43 days on Monday. The farmers called off their agitation of first phase and switched over to second phase of agitation what they called “civil disobedience”. “We have organized relay hunger strike for 43 days demanding the block area to be declared draught-hit. Pity is that officers of the district administration have visited Jamenkira on several occasions. They discussed with the agitating farmers and have assured to submit report to the government but till date no action has been taken by the government”, convener of the Jamenkira block farmers association Kusadhway Chaudhary told.

According to him Jamenkira block received record low rain fail this year as a result of which more than 75 percent crop has been damaged. “Unless they are not properly compensated and provided with seeds and fertilizers for ensuing crop, they will virtually come to road. Since it is a non-irrigated block government should also take immediate step to provide irrigation facility to the farmers”, Chaudhary told. The farmers of the block

have decided to close all government offices and all panchayat offices during their 2^nd phase of agitation that begins from Monday with a huge farmers rally. Peacefully “we continue our agitation for 43 days in front of the block officer in support of our demand. Officers have visited us to give us assurance but they have done nothings. Now we have decided to stall all government offices in Jamenkira in order to show our strength. We will continue this till government takes a positive step on our demand”, farmer’s leader and Convener of western Orissa farmers coordination committee Ashok Pradhan told. Huge police force was deployed in Jamenkira in view of the agitation. But every thing passed peacefully. “Heavy police arrangement was made in Jamenkira looking to the tense situation but every thing passed peacefully”, additional SP (Sambalpur) Labakanta Rana told