BJD urges ECI not to stop Kalia assistance to farmers

Surjit kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, March 17: Ruling BJD on Saturday urged the Election Commission not to be pressurized by the rival BJP to stop KALIA assistance to more than 20 lakh farmers in Odisha.

The party in a memorandum, submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar, said the State Government had launched the KALIA Yojana to provide support and assistance to the farming community and farmers of the State.

“Over the past few months, more than 37 lakh farmers have been benefitted due to this historic programme which is for the development of agriculture as well as the life and livelihood of the farmers,” it said.

The memorandum said KALIA has been hailed as a revolutionary step by eminent economists and agricultural experts in India and across the world.

However, the party alleged that the BJP has been trying to pressurize the Election Commission with an intention to stop the flow of KALIA funds to the farmers of the State.

“If this were to come true, then more than 20 lakh farmers whose names are displayed at the Grampanchayats across the state would be severely affected and their preparations for the upcoming cropping season would be dealt a major blow,” the memorandum added.

Urging the poll panel not to allow the BJP to succeed in its design to stop the KALIA assistance to farmers, it said it should not feel pressurized by the arm-twisting tactics of the BJP as it is in power at Centre.

It urged the panel to heed to the needs of 20 lakh farmers of the State and ensure that at no cost the KALIA Yojana benefits are stopped.

 “Otherwise farmers who are looking forward to getting this assistance and have therefore in earnest started preparations for Kharif agricultural season would be grievously affected.” The ruling party said in the memorandum adding, “We strongly assert that the farmers should not be distressed due to the BJP’s pressurizing tactics on Election Commission to stop KALIA funds to them.”

Notably, earlier a delegation of BJP had urged the Chief Electoral Officer to stop payment of KALIA assistance to farmers as the model code of conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates.