Another farmer commits suicide due to crop loss

Peasants’ bodies accuse Odisha govt of terming deaths due to ‘family problems’

Naveen Patnaik

Another case of suicide by a farmer due to crop loss and debt burden had come up on Sunday in Aska block of Ganjam in Odisha.

According to sources, the deceased Brundaban Swain (70) of Nuagaon village under Kalasandhapur panchayat had allegedly consumed poison on Sunday morning. He was initially admitted to Aska hospital and later transferred to MKCG medical college and hospital in Berhampur, where he died in the evening.

Debt burden

Speaking to newsmen, his son Hadubandhu Swain said that crop loss due to inadequate rain and loan burden led his father to commit suicide. The deceased owned around two acres of land and had taken loan. He reportedly had not been able to get proper yield during last Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Aska Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Subash Panda said that till evening no one had lodged any complaint. “But I have ordered police officials concerned to start a detailed enquiry about the incident,” he added.

Rushikulya Rayat Sabha (RRS) secretary Simanchal Nahak said government and administration will again try to suppress this suicide by terming it a family problem.

Meanwhile, farmers’ organisations Odisha Krushak Sabha (OKS), RRS and the All-India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) have separately demanded ₹10 lakh compensation for the family of another deceased peasant of Tikarada village in Ganjam district. This peasant named T.Bulu Reddy had attempted suicide on March 10 and had died on March 12.

Memorandum submitted

Led by their State vice-president Jagannath Mishra and Ganjam district secretary Harekrushna Reddy, OKS activists submitted a memorandum addressed to the State Chief Minister at the office of Berhampur sub-collector. The OKS alleged that Mr Reddy had taken loans over ₹1 lakh for his crop that got destroyed by untimely rains.

The OKS also demanded that the government bears the cost of treatment of his ailing son.

AIKMS national secretary Bhala Chandra Sarangi also demanded ₹10 lakh compensation for the family of the farmer. He alleged that at the direction of the State government, police and administration had made efforts to suppress the real cause behind the suicide by terming it a suicide due to family problems.

‘Give compensation’

The RRS has also protested against the claim of administration. Sabha secretary Simanchal Nahak said it was high time the State government accepts the truth and provide ₹10 lakh compensation to the bereaved families.