Nayak said the NDA government had declared special package of Rs.1, 25,000 crore for Bihar prior to assembly elections. The central government has directed the Niti Aayog to provide package of Rs.2,50,000 crore package to Andhra Pradesh as ally of NDA formed government there.
The NDA government soon declared package for floods in Jammu and Kashmir and Prime Minister during his visit to the state declared special package of Rs. 80,000 crore, but the same government is not willing to provide any package to drought-hit Odisha, he added, in a released issued here.
He said 21 districts and 139 blocks were drought-hit in the state due to scanty rainfall during monsoon. In October, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had called on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley demanding special package of Rs. 3,500 crore over drought situation in the state. Despite, the central government has not released any special packages to the state, he alleged.
He said the central government adding insult to the injuries of debt-ridden farmers of the state as it sent team for the assessment of drought but not hesitating to grant any funds to the state or to help distressed farmers in Odisha, he lampooned.
In order to tackle the drought situation and to stop farmers’ suicide, Odisha government has declared special drought package of Rs. 1,000 crore for farmers. And, also taken many measures to help drought-hit farmers, he added.
The BJP-led government at centre has not showing any interest in helping distress farmers of Odisha, while the BJP leaders in the state have been making farmers’ death as a ‘political issue’, he said.