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Farmers raise slogans against Orissa government
Around 1,000 farmers raised slogans against the Orissa govt and took out a rally and demonstrated in front of the district collectorate.
Around 1,000 farmers, wielding lathis and raising slogans against the Orissa government, took out a rally and demonstrated in front of the district collectorate here today.
Organised under the banner of Kendrapara zilla chasi shramik sangha (kzcss), the farmers were protesting against various alleged anti-peasant policies of the government which, they alleged, ruined the agro-based economy of the coastal district.
Braving the scorching sun, the farmers held batons as a mark of protest and demonstrated for over three hours.
However, no untoward incident was reported during the demonstration, police said.
Meanwhile, the agitationists who mostly hailed from Bari- Derabisi and Kendrapara blocks, said they had decided to abstain from exercising their votes in the coming elections.
Continued imposition of water cess on them despite the government canal irrigation network turning dysfunctional since past two decades had prompted them to take such a drastic step, they said.
Later, the farmers presented a 11-point charter of demands to the district magistrate copies of which were also dispatched to the state governor and chief minister, bijoy parida, secretary, kzcss said.
Their demands included remunerative support price of their produce to prevent distress sale, withdrawal of water cess in non-irrigated ageas, restoration of wetlands and pension provision for farm labourers and small and marginal farmers.
