Even though the State Government has announced several measures to offer assistance to the farmers hit by drought, unseasonal rains and pest attack, farmer suicides continue unabated in the State, with as many as three farmers, including a woman, having ended their lives on Monday and Tuesday.
A debt-ridden farmer of Jajpur district committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree due to crop loss on Monday night. The deceased farmer was identified as Suresh Sahoo (46) of Sudanapur village under the Bari block.
Sahoo had cultivated paddy crop on his three acres farmland after obtaining loan of Rs 1 lakh from the village Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society to purchase seed and fertilisers. But the unseasonal rain damaged the paddy crop. He was in a distressed state and is believed to have taken the extreme step owing to that reason.
later, hundreds of BJP supporters on Tuesday protested against Sahoo’s death by blocking the main road at Sundanpur. They demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased’s family members.
When contacted, Jajpur district Collector Ranjan Kumar Das said, “After getting information about the incident, I directed the local BDO and Tehsildar to submit a report. After getting it, we will provide help to the deceased farmer’s family members.”
Similarly, in another incident on Monday night, a farmer of Raisilpadar under Gaisilat block in Bargarh district allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison over crop loss.
The farmer, Umakant Sahu was immediately rushed to the loisingha hospital where he succumbed.
Alleging that Sahu consumed poison due to crop loss, his family members staged a road blockade near Saradhapalli area on Tuesday demanding compensation.
In another incident in Gotiela village under Purushottampur block in Ganjam district, a woman farmer, Buluma Dora on Tuesday allegedly committed suicide over crop loss due to unseasonal rains and pest attack.