You are demanding pension for farmers. Why are your reasons for making such a demand?

We want social security allowance for farmers and it should be given from the age of 20. One has the fundamental right to livelihood and the government has to protect it. This has been enshrined in the Constitution itself. The person, who is taking the responsibility to fill the stomach of the nation, cannot be left in a lurch. Even a peon, after his retirement, gets decent amount as pension. While soldiers, doctors, officers and government employees at various levels get pension, why not the farmers? They dedicate their entire life for the development of the nation as well to feed the country. Don't they deserve pension?

Your demand for prestige to farmers appears a vague slogan. No one can demand prestige for himself or herself. It is earned...

Yes, I do agree with that. But with the passage of time, many things have changed. Here, the masters are subjected to humiliation and the government employees, considered public servants, are ruling the roost. They survive on the taxpayers' money, but because of the power and authority they enjoy, the farmers have to come and bend before them. These things have to be changed.

You are talking about remunerative prices...

Yes, we are aware of it. As we are raising the demand, the state has taken up the issue and the farmers are being benefited. Our motto is that it's not the government that should fix the price of the farmers' produce. Let the farmers fix the price for their produce themselves deciding the profit margin.

We are a market-driven society. Is it possible here?

Yes. The government should intervene so that farmers get the minimum justified price for their produce. When the private sector takes maximum retail price for their products, why can the farmers not be given the just price for their products?

There are many kinds of farmers - rich, small and marginal farmers. Who are you fighting for?

Our fight is for those who till the land. We are not for landlords. But in Odisha, there are few landlords.

The state government is going to introduce land rights for sharecroppers. Do you support that?

An attempt is being made to create a division in the society by driving a wedge between the sharecroppers and marginal landowners. We all should be aware of it. Our demand is that you first allocate 25 per cent of the state's budget for farmers and then we will decide how the land will be divided among the sharecroppers and the landowners. First give us our share, then we will decide what to do on this issue.

You are evading the issue...

No. We are with all those who cultivate the land. While the per capita income of the farmers at the national level is pegged at Rs 6,426, that of Odisha farmers hovers around Rs 4,976.

The state government, despite budgetary constraints, is going ahead with its Re 1-a-kg rice scheme. What is your opinion on it?

The Re 1-a-kg rice scheme is kind of relief measure that should continue for a brief period but not forever. It's like throwing a loaf of bread before a dog...

But the Re 1-a-kg rice scheme has successfully checked starvation deaths in Odisha. For the past few years, no case of starvation death has been reported in the state...

I agree. But one should not think it's the only solution to bring a lasting change in the life of farmers. We must focus on how to improve the livelihood of farmers by bringing sustainable development and giving a boost to their sagging economy.

Your agitation for the farmers' cause seems to have a political tone. It gives out the message that you are against the Naveen Patnaik government.

We are not against any government. We are against the system, against the concept of development. We are raising some issues and want that they be addressed. We have to involve all kinds of people to make the movement a success. Let me make it clear that I am not joining electoral politics. I am openly saying that no government - neither the J.B. Patnaik government nor Naveen Patnaik government - has laid emphasis on development of agriculture.

You seem to be also against industrialisation. How can the state grow otherwise?

We should focus on small-scale industries and the development of agriculture. We should not focus only on setting up big industries by exhausting all our natural resources such as iron ore and bauxite. Just tell me, how Punjab has emerged as one of the economically advanced states in the county? It has been possible because they have given thrust on the development of agriculture.

For the people

• Akshay, 50, a believer in Gandhian philosophy, spent many years at the Vinoba Bhave's Ashram in Wardha and did a diploma in Gandhian studies

• He had worked in Punjab when the insurgency was at its peak. Later, he moved to violence-ridden Assam and worked towards establishing peace through non-violence

• A graduate in commerce, Akshay was moved by the plight of the common people in Odisha after the super cyclone that had struck the state in 1999 and started working to bring relief to them

• Later, he started taking up farmers issue. He came to limelight in 2013 when he along with his supporters jumped before the Naveen's carcade to highlight the farmer's issues

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN IF NOT A SOCIAL ACTIVIST?

Since my childhood, I had the dream of doing something unique - to do something for the society. Vinoba Bhave has inspired me. Perhaps, I am on the right path and have reached where I wanted to be.