SP moots pension to farmers

The State unit of the Samajwadi Party has suggested to the State Government to make provision in the supplementary budget to pay monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to each farmer to check the growing rate of suicide among them. It has also demanded an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,000 to the unemployed youths of the State.

In a memorandum submitted to Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya here on Monday, the SP has asked what is the harm in giving small, marginal farmers, share croppers and unemployed youths allowance when it has no hesitation to increase the dearness allowance (DA) of its employees from 65 to 72 per cent. The hike in DA for the employees has put an additional burden of Rs 409 crore on the State exchequer, he said.

State unit president of the party Rabi Behera demanded measures to check distress sale of paddy as the harvesting season had already started.

Besides, the State Government should also pay a bonus of Rs 250  besides the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, he said.

Other demands include action against private and public sector banks which are lending to farmers and waive loans of the farmers hit by the Neelam cyclone.