Bhubaneswar: Members of Opposition Congress and the BJP on Thursday staged a walkout in the Odisha Assembly over its alleged failure to settle crop insurance claims of the farmers affected by natural calamities.

The Opposition members alleged that many farmers were deprived of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana's benefits because of the Odisha government's apathy.

Co-operation minister Surjya Narayan Patro, however, refuted the Opposition's allegation and said his government had disbursed crop insurance of Rs 1,594. 06 crore to 7.86 lakh farmers belonging to 2,447 gram panchayats during the current kharif season. "Steps are being taken to disburse another Rs 43.39 crore," he said.

Patro claimed that during the last kharif season, insurance claim to the tune of Rs 1,637.45 crore had been disbursed which was four times higher than the previous year.

The minister said that during the period from April 19 till date, 10 official meetings had been held and another meeting was convened on September 8, to which the Union agriculture ministry's joint secretary was invited. The Centre was requested last on August 14 to direct the insurance companies to release the insurance claims as early as possible.

Life was hit in Bheden block of Baragarh district on Thursday after various farmer bodies observed a 12-hour strike demanding immediate disbursal of crop insurances by the Odisha government.

The dawn-to-dusk strike received support from various organisations, including the citizen committee, traders' association and social service committees. Similarly, the Western Odisha Farmers' Co-ordination Committee and the Jai Kisan Andolan also extended their support towards the strike.

The farmer activists staged roadblocks at several vantage points in the block leading to traffic disruption. Business establishments, shops, markets, schools and colleges remained closed in the area, while vehicular movement was partially affected.