BJD for implementation of Swaminathan comm recommendations on MSP: CM Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, whose party BJD opposed pass of farm bills in Rajya Sabha, on Monday said y will fight for implementation of Swaminathan committee recommendations on fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Patnaik said this while addressing BJD Legislature Party meeting on eve of monsoon session of Assembly which commences from Tuesday.

eight-day long session of state house has been convened from September 29 amid surging COVID cases in Odisha.

session will end on October 7.

"BJD is in favour of any initiative that will bring prosperity in lives of farmers. We will continue our fight for implementation of M S Swaminathan committee recommendations on formulating MSP. This will really help farmers at large, Patnaik told BJD lawmakers.

Stating that BJD raised its concern regarding protection of farmers interest in farm bills, Patnaik said his party has suggested for close scrutiny of legislations by Parliamentary Committee.

This apart, Patnaik said BJD will form a committee of MLAs, MPs and leading farmers leaders to study provisions of new farm bills.

"I would like to assure farmers that ir welfare will be paramount in any of our interventions," Patnaik said referring to opposition Congress allegations that both BJD and BJP were "anti-farmers".

Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh during a recent visit to Odisha, had targeted ruling BJD and accused regional party of having a "secret understanding" with BJP at national level.

Patnaik also made his partys stand clear on New Education Policy.

" party has formed a committee to go through all aspects and come up with findings after discussing with various stakeholders," he said.

Stating that Odisha is first state formed on linguistic basis in country, BJD president said that party is committed to protect and promote mor tongue dia, wher it is in New Education Policy or any or intervention of union government.

"This will form an important principle to evaluate education policy and in addition to this How rural students will be impacted will also be an important criteria for us," Patnaik said.

Referring to opposition BJP and Congress in state which have already prepared to corner state government on alleged COVID-19 mismanment in Assembly, Patnaik said pandemic in last 6 months or so has changed lives of people like never before.

Stating that India is adding almost a lakh new cases every day and this is highest addition in world besides country having second highest number of cases in world, Patnaik said,"countrys ecomy has been hit very badly, registering minus 23 per cent growth resulting in millions of job losses and lakhs of business closes." However, Odisha is putting up a brave fight against COVID, he said adding that state has one of highest recovery rates in country and saves maximum people in country with low fatality rates.

"We are pioneering state to set up dedicated COVID hospitals, Temporary Medical Camps and empowered Gram Panchayats in playing a vital role in coronavirus manment.

"From food in TMCs to accommodation, testing, lodging, transport, treatment, plasma rapy everything is provided free of cost to COVID patients in state," chief minister said.

This apart, Patnaik also claimed that Odisha is only state in country which is providing everything free of cost to Every One. Universal free cover of all COVID related expenses.

chief minister said he had asked all party MLAs to actively mobilise blood plasma and help in dead body cremation through BJDs 'Jeeban Bindu and 'Mo Parivar Programes.

"Also we should actively sensitise people on use of masks, hand washing, and maintain social distance. For se we will have a month long awareness campaign from October 2, Gandhi Jayanti following COVID guidelines," Patnaik said.

Im Credits: PTI