CM Naveen Patnaik launches ‘digital mandi’ in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, June 18: Populism is scaling new heights in Odisha with chief minister Naveen Patnaik today giving away free mobile phone sets to nearly 5,000 farmers.

In the next few days, another 15,000 mobile sets will be distributed to the farmers. Each set costs around Rs 1,200.

Four days ago, Naveen had distributed one-time allowance of Rs 100 to nearly 38 lakh people to enable them to purchase umbrellas.

Naveen said: “With the introduction of the scheme, farmers will get right price for their produce by obtaining information about the price of their products in various areas.”

However, the Opposition alleged that in the name of giving mobile sets to the farmers, the BJD was actually obliging its own party workers. “We have serious doubts about the government’s selection procedure. They are playing sheer politics to win the voters’ support,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena.

BJP vice-president Surma Padhi said: “This is an election gimmick only. By handing over a few mobile sets, the government is trying to hoodwink the farmers.”

The state’s co-operation minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, however, pooh-poohed the Opposition’s allegation. “Out of sheer jealousy, they are making such wild allegations. The collectors have identified beneficiaries from among the Kisan card-holders. We had also earmarked Rs 2 crore for the scheme in the last budget,” he said.

Secretary of the co-operation department Bishnupada Sethi said: “A collector-constituted committee has selected the farmers. We are mainly trying to identify the ‘progressive farmers’, who have involved themselves in various government programmes and can take the message of development right down to the grassroots level.”

According to the arrangement, the BSNL will send free voice SMS to the mobile-holding farmers about the market prices of agriculture produce, fertilisers, weather condition and other necessary information. The messages will be sent in Odia.

Sadanana Mishra, 71, a farmer from Balasore, said: “It will certainly help me get a right price from my produce. I have been in the profession for the past 30 years. As agriculture is no more a remunerative profession, my two sons have opted for jobs in private companies. However, the mobile phone given by the government will certainly help me in agriculture.” Nimai Charan Bhoi, 53, of Sonepur, too, echoed similar sentiments. Sources said the government was also planning to announce more freebies before elections were announced.