Another two farmers commit suicide in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Malkangiri/Rayagada, Nov 8:

Instances of farmer suicide in Odisha continue to rise by the day irrespective of repeated appeal by ministers and announcement of various schemes by the State Government.

While multiple cases of farmer suicide were recorded from western districts of the state earlier, instances of suicide have started coming from southern districts too. Two more cases of farmer suicide came to fore in the state today and both from southern districts.

The first farmer suicide of the year in southern Malkangiri district was recorded today. The incident took place in Kamalpalli village under Korkenda block. The deceased farmer has been identified as Muka Markami. He hanged himself.

Muka had taken a personal loan of Rs 25,000 to cultivate five acres of land. However, he had been under severe mental stress following crop loss owing to drought this year. His family members cite crop loss and loan burden as the reasons behind his death. Besides, they have also filed a written complaint in Malkangiri police station on this context.

Similarly, another southern district Rayagada also witnessed a farmer suicide today.

The incident happened in Haduguda village under Ramnaguda area of the district. The deceased has been identified as 55 year old Paika Shabar. Paika committed suicide by consuming pesticides. Like Muka, Paika’s family members also blame crop loss and drought situation as the most important factors behind his suicide.

He had been to the field yesterday and consumed poison late last evening. Even though his family members tried to take him to a hospital, it was too late and he died under treatment in Gunupur hospital.

“My father had cultivated paddy on five acres of land and cotton on another five acres. Both the crops were damaged extensively due to scant rainfall. He had taken loans to the tune of a lakh from Gramya Bank and other sources. He took the extreme steps as he was worried that he would not be able to pay back the loans,” said his son Dharmendra Shabar.