Odisha to bring legislation to benefit sharecroppers: Rout

With farmers' suicide being reported in Odisha, state Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout today said the state government was contemplating to bring a legislation to help the sharecroppers.
"As the sharcroppsers do not get any bank loans and compensation but sustain loss in the calamities, the new legislation will make provision for benefiting them," Rout said while addressing a function here marking observation of cooperation week in Mayurbhanj district.
Rejecting the allegation levelled by the opposition that crop loss and debt burden were reasons behind the farmers suicide, Rout reiterated his previous statement that farmers in Odisha live with pride and never commit suicide.

"The farmers of Odisha know the art of survival during calamities like flood, drought and cyclone," the minister said.
Meanwhile, a high level committee, headed by Cooperation Department secretary with senior officials from Revenue and Disaster Management and Odisha State Cooperative Banks managing director will soon visit Andhra Pradesh to study the policy framework on tenancy rights.