XI LOK SABHA DEBATES,   Session IV (Budget) 

Wednesday , May 7, 1997 / Vaisakha  17, 1919 (Saka)



Type of Debate: MATTERS UNDER RULE 377	

Title: Re : Need to sanction adequate funds for providing financial
assistance to the drought affected people in Western Orissa.

TEXT :
 
SHRI  BHAKTA  CHARAN  DAS  (KALAHANDI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, Kalahandi, Nuapara,
Bolangir, Sonepore and Boudh Districts of Western Orissa are facing continuous
drought. As a result, farmers are  migrating,  selling  their  households  and
cattle  lots for survival. Farmers have lost their capacity to go for the next
kharif crop. Banks are not giving loans for seeds, fertilizers etc. The entire
population of these drought-affected districts are suffering a lot without any
means of survival. Government of India has seriously taken up the crop loss of
Andhra Pradesh when the chronic cyclone damaged the coconut crop and  adequate
compensation  was  given to them. But the poor farmers of Orissa have not been
given any assistance. Unless the farmers are given sufficient compensation for
their crop loss and financial assistance for the next kharif crops, the  lives
of thousands of farmers and their families cannot be saved.

	I  request the Government to take up the matter of the hapless farmers
of chronically drought-affected districts of Western  Orissa  and  direct  the
authorities to sanction sufficient funds for the purchase of seeds, fertilizer
and compensation for crop loss, etc., to the farmers.





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