Padampur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today hit the campaigned trail and attended the public meeting at Jharbandh in Padampur constituency for the by-polls. A sea of supporters gathered at the meeting venue to hear their beloved leader and cheer for the party candidate Barsha Singh Bariha. During the meeting, Naveen thanked all for their continuous support to him and the party. He said that he has always been with the people and fighting for the rights of the poor.
In his speech, Naveen said “I am working for the rights of the Kendu leaf workers. We are working and fighting for the welfare and rights of the farmers. Odisha has been doing exemplary works for the empowerment of the women. Our aim is to make our mothers entrepreneurs. I am working for the welfare of the tribal people.” I don’t believe in speaking ….I believe in doing. Requesting all to bless Biju Janata Dal candidate Barsha Singh Bariha, Naveen asked them to vote for the Biju Janata Dal.
During his campaign speech Naveen said that Odisha is leading state in the whole country in giving bonus to the Kendu leaf workers. Recently, bonus of Rs 1000 and Rs 1500 was given to the Kendu Leaf workers. It will also continue in the future. All will be included in the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. The BJD government has given many facilities to you all such as education of children, marriage of daughters etc., and many more will be given. But it is very sad that the BJP Government at Center has levied 18 percent GST on Kendu leafs. Do you know how much GST is levied on gold? Only three percent GST is levied on Gold. Gold businessmen will give only three percent but the poor Kendu leaf workers have to pay 18 percent GST. The BJP leaders are shedding crocodile tears for the Kendu leaf workers. I will fight for your rights from the villages to Delhi. BJP leaders will never open up about this injustice.
There is a crop insurance scheme for the farmers. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is a Central Scheme. But the state government is contributing fifty percent of the premium worth Rs 630 Crore. The crop insurance amount of the farmers of Padampur was withheld with the Center for 18 months. When the farmers opposed the nomination of the BJP candidate, they woke up and released the crop insurance amount. Still now many farmers of Padampur have not received their crop insurance amount. I will fight for you at the Center. The BJP leaders promised to double the MSP during 2014, but is it happened? There have neglected in supplying fertilisers, they also neglected in lifting paddy from the state. They also neglected in giving loans to the farmers. The BJD Government is setting up mega instream storage irrigation and other irrigation projects for the farmers. It is also giving zero percent loans, assistance through KALIA Yojana and many more to the farmers. Works worth Rs 1000 crore have been taken up in Padampur for the development of the farmers.
Lashing out at the BJP for its anti poor activities, Naveen said the Central Government led by the BJP had promised to provide houses for all by 2022. Odisha had built five lakh house annually for the poor. The State also received awards for its good performance. But it very sad that the BJP Members of Parliament from Odisha pressurised the Center to stop the Gramin Awash Yojana for Odisha. With political intentions, they have deprived the poor people from Odisha from getting houses. More than ten lakh poor people would have got houses. While the Center is awarding the state for its ersormance, these state leaders are depriving the poor. About 25 thousand eligible beneficiaries have been left without houses in Padampur. If the Center deprives you from your rights, Your State Government will provide you the houses.