Bhubaneswar, 09 March (H.S.): During the Zero Hour in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday, the opposition strongly voiced concerns regarding farmers' issues, specifically demanding government accountability for the death of a farmer in Rajnagar and alleged irregularities in the paddy procurement process.

In response to the opposition's call for action, Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy directed the relevant department to investigate the death of farmer Trilochan Nayak from Rajnagar and report back to the House.

Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik brought attention to the functioning of the paddy procurement system, alleging that many farmers had received procurement tokens but were still unable to sell their paddy, resulting in significant hardship.

Mallik also referenced the death of Trilochan Nayak and sought clarification on whether an investigation had been conducted into the incident. She demanded that the findings be presented in the Assembly and that the concerned minister provide a detailed statement on the issue.

Stressing the urgency of addressing farmers' grievances, Mallik questioned the rationale behind conducting investigations only after tragedies occur. She urged the government to take farmers' concerns seriously and implement timely solutions.

Ramchandra Kadam, leader of the Congress Legislature Party, echoed these concerns, highlighting the escalating challenges faced by farmers and calling for immediate action from the government to find lasting solutions.

Taking the matter seriously, Speaker Surama Padhy instructed the relevant minister to investigate and deliver a detailed statement to the Assembly before the current session concludes.

The discussion in the House underscored growing concern among legislators regarding farmers' welfare and the effectiveness of the state's paddy procurement system, with opposition members urging the government to ensure timely support and fair treatment for farmers statewide.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda