Farmer suicide continues unabated in Odisha, one more dead

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bolangir, Oct 27:

One more farmer loses battle for life bowed down by debt and crop loss in Batharala village under Sindhikela police station in Bolangir district of Odisha.

Parikhita Nag had consumed poison on October 25 and was admitted to Mission Hospital in Khariar in a critical condition for treatment.

However, after three days Nag lost the struggle and was declared dead by the doctors.

Ryot Nag had borrowed money from relatives and friends for growing cotton on two acres of land and paddy on one acre. Lack of rain had resulted in crop failure adding to his worries. Under severe mental stress Nag had taken the extreme step of committing suicide by drinking poison.

No administrative official have visited the family, yet according to sources.

Notably, six cases of alleged suicide by farmers were reported in Odisha yesterday. Farmer Satrughan Behera of Tikarpada village in Keonjhar district committed suicide, while another farmer Bidyadhar Nayak of Birasinghpur village in Ganjam district reportedly committed suicide due to crop loss and debt burden.

Pabitra Badhia of Bhatli block in Bargarh district reportedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide after his crops was destroyed. While, another farmer from Dhenkanal district Baidhar Pradhan killed himself for the same reason. Another farmer Baidhar Mahalik of Bhadrak district allegedly committed suicide and debt-ridden farmer of Tigiria village in Keonjhar district reportedly ended his life after jumping into a well.

According to media reports around 35 farmers in Odisha have given up their struggle for survival and committed suicide this month.