Millers’ strike unwarranted: Lok Satta

The Lok Satta Party today termed the rice millers’ decision to go on a strike and not buy paddy was unwarranted when farmers are reeling under the impact of unusual and heavy rains in December.

Lok Satta Party President D. V. V. S. Varma and Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao said in a media statement that failure to repair drains resulted in rainwater stagnating in fields and damaging the standing or just-harvested paddy crop.

They wanted the Government to announce a special package of assistance to farmers and tenants who suffered 50 percent crop losses. It should arrange for purchase of discolored paddy at the minimum support price, swift enumeration of losses, an input subsidy of Rs.4000 an acre, and interest-free crop loans.

The Lok Satta leaders hoped the Assembly would give top priority to farmers’ woes and come up with long-term solutions.