MPs express concern over plight of farmers

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) Members in the Lok Sabha today expressed concern over the plight of farmers in the country which is forcing them to commit suicide and urged the Government to address their concerns.

Participating in the resumed discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants, Mr Brahmanand Panda (BJD) said many areas in Orissa were marooned due to floods, which had brought normal life to a standstill. He sought a flood package for Orissa and said KVK districts in the state should be included in a special package. He complained that right from the beginning the Governments had been indifferent to the needs of Orissa, which had always been hit by one calamity or another.

Mrs Paramjit Kaur (SAD) demanded a special package for Punjab, saying the last Budget presented by Mr P Chidambaram had ignored the state. She said industries in Punjab were now shifting elsewhere out of the state. Complaining of step-motherly treatment to Punjab, she said farmers numbering more than 2000 had committed suicide in the state so far. There had been cases of entire families committing suicide. This was a cruel joke played on farmers, she said and demanded measures to pull them out of the crisis.

Mr Jual Oram (BJP) expressed concern over the skyrocketing prices and their effect on the common man. He demanded that Jetropha cultivation be promoted in view of the petrol crisis and said Chhattisgarh had done a pioneering work in promoting bio diesel.

Referring to farmers suicides, he asked for loans on easy terms to farmers.

Mr Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMM) also expressed concern over farmers' suicide. He called for waiving all restrictions on ration cards for BPL families for availing PDS facility. He demanded more funds to be allocated to the Ministry of Minorities.

Mr Sunil Khan(CPI-M) called for measures to improve the lot of farmers so that they were not forced to commit suicide. He also wanted the educated youth to be given jobs under the National Employment Rural Guarantee Scheme.

Mr Shailendra Kumar (SP) said the economic policy of the Government had failed as the common man was deprived of the basic facilities and had been hit hard by the price rise.

Mr Tapir Gao (BJP) opposed the supplementary demands for grants, saying his state of Arunachal Pradesh had not gained anything in the Budget as it had neither the railway nor an airport.

Mr Yerran Naidu (TDP) demanded that the National Calamity Contingency Fund be strengthened with more funds as the states hit by calamity were finding themselves unable to meet their requirements.

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