Three farmers kill self in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Dhenkanal/Sundergarh/Nuapada, Nov 20:

Three peasants have reportedly killed themselves in Dhekanal, Nuapada and Sundergarh districts of Odisha, today, just a day after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a list of sops for distressed farmers in a grand agriculturists rally in Western Odisha.

BJD’s Sohela ‘Chasi Samabesh’, has been unable to stop farmers from commiting suicide, with two more farmer deaths reported from Dhenkanal and Sudergarh districts, respectively on Friday.

Farmer, Diganta Das of Raitala village in Dhenkanal district died today in hospital after he admitted for consuming poison on Thursday night.

Diganta had planted paddy in 5 acres of land for which he had taken a loan of nearly Rs 1 lakh from various sources.

However, the poor rainfall crops were damaged. He was worried about repaying the loans to bank and private moneylenders, Das took the extreme step and drank pesticide.

In another incident, Satana Ekka of Koparanda village under Bisra block, Rourkela in Sundargarh district committed suicide by hanging from a tree. His son has said that his father was under great mental pressure due to non repayments of heavy loans due to crop loss.

“He talked well with all of us properly yesterday night. But he was worried about the non repayment of loans and took this step, said his daughter.

Police are investigating the matter after reaching the spot.

The number of farmer suicide has risen to more than 100 in the state, with no amount of sops by the governemnt helping to stem the tide of peasant deaths.

Meanwhile, third farmer, a native of  Dangariguda in Sinapali area of Nuapara district found dead in his field. His wife has alleged he committed suicide over debt burden.

Yesterday,  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced a special package of Rs 35, 000 crore for the farmers of western Odisha during the ‘Chasi Samabesh’ at Sohela in Bargarh district.

The image building measure of massive farmer meet by the embattled ruling party in Sohela yesterday, which drawing ire from all quarters  due to increasing farmer suicides, does not seem to have given nuch confidence to the distressed farmers in Odisha.