LiveOdisha Bandh Live Updates: Farmers call for protest, transport services likely to be affected

Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) workers block Puri-Bhubaneswar road in Uttara Chhak during their eight-hour Odisha bandh on protesting against alleged lapses in paddy procurement

• Transport: Public transport, including bus services and vehicular traffic, is likely to face significant disruptions. Rail services may also be affected.
• Education & Offices: Many schools and colleges are reportedly closed or seeing minimal attendance, though official government notifications were not universally issued. State government offices, banks, and financial institutions are expected to be closed or operate with limited staff.
• Markets: Business establishments, markets, and petrol pumps in several districts may remain shut. 

• Paddy Procurement: Demanding the direct disbursement of Rs 800 per quintal input assistance to all farmers at state-run mandis and the removal of middlemen and millers from the system.
• Utility Grievances: Protesting the installation of electricity smart meters and alleged arbitrary power tariff-related actions by Tata Power.
• Vehicle Penalties: Opposing steep penalties levied on vehicle owners under the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) enforcement.
• Farmer Welfare: Seeking remunerative prices for agricultural produce, farmer dignity, and a farmer security allowance (pension). 

The Odisha unit of the BJP, however, rejected all the allegations and said that the NNKS-called bandh will have no impact in Odisha. "NNKS is staging a fake farmers' agitation to maintain its existence in Odisha. Opposition Congress, which has become weak in the state, is trying to gain political mileage by supporting the bandh call," BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra said.

Odisha unit of CPI(M) also announced its support to the NNKS bandh and called upon people to cooperate with the agitation being held for the welfare of farmers. "The farmers across Odisha are victims of the honeymoon between millers, middlemen and government," alleged CPI(M) state secretary Suresh Chandra Panigrahi.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty at a press conference thanked the NNKS for conducting the strike. "Thanks NNKS for taking up the causes of farmers over which issue, the BJD has planned a fortnight-long agitation across the state from February 2," he said. Asked whether the BJD supports the bandh call given by the NNKS, Mohanty said, "We have thanked them for fighting for the rights of farmers."

The NNKS has called for a bandh demanding the disbursement of Rs 800 per quintal input assistance to all farmers at state-run mandis and elimination of middlemen and millers from the paddy procurement system. It also protested the imposition of electricity smart meters on consumers and steep penalties levied on vehicle owners under pollution certificate enforcement. It also opposed the move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevija Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das, in a statement, said the issues raised by Navnirman Krushak Sangathan are similar to those over which the grand old party has been staging agitations across the state."The OPCC has resolved to support the bandh called by NNKS on January 28. Accordingly, instructions have been issued to the party's district-level units," the statement said.

The Odisha unit of the Congress has extended support to a state-wide bandh called by a farmers' organisation on Wednesday. The state unit of CPI (M) also announced its support to the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS), a farmer body which has called for an eight-hour bandh on January 28. The BJD thanked the NNKS for taking up the farmers' issue and hitting the streets.

The protesting farmers are expected to stage protests outside key locations, including district collectors’ offices, Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), Tata Power offices, and all Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) statewide. Activities such as dumping paddy sacks during these demonstrations are also possible.

• Government offices (partial disruption possible)
• Banks and financial institutions (operations may be affected)
• Schools and colleges (some may remain shut or shift online)
• Public transport (buses, autos, taxis may run fewer services)
• Shops and markets (especially in urban centres)
• Private offices and commercial establishments
• Petrol pumps (may face temporary disruption in some areas)
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• Hospitals and medical colleges
• Ambulance services
• Pharmacies and medical stores
• Emergency services (police, fire, disaster response)
• Milk supply and essential food delivery (may vary locally)
• Media services
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Farmers under the umbrella of Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) are holding a statewide bandh from 6 AM. They want the government to pay out the promised Rs 800 per quintal input assistance at state-run mandis and to kick middlemen and millers out of the paddy procurement process.

Due to Odisha bandh effects, the schools, colleges and coaching centres may experience low attendance or temporary closure due to transport disruptions and safety concerns. Apart from this, several government offices may see reduced attendance as employees face difficulty commuting. Services related to document processing, public grievance redressal, and routine administrative work may be delayed for the day because of the protests.

Due to Odisha bandh, the state government the Odisha government has issued precautionary directives to all district collectors and magistrates. A letter from R.K. Sharma, Special Secretary of the Home Department, outlines concerns that protesters may force closures of commercial outlets, create disturbances in market areas, hinder government office operations, disrupt court proceedings, shut down fuel stations, and interfere with banking services. There is also apprehension about the impacts on road and rail transport.

The day-long Odisha bandh is expected is expected to involve widespread sit-ins, demonstrations, and protest rallies across the state. The strike also could lead to the closure of business establishments, markets, central and state government offices, courts, petrol pumps, banks, and other financial institutions.

A day-long Odisha Bandh has been called by the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) to protest over alleged mismanagement in paddy procurement. The protest started from 6 am and will continue till 2 pm.