Two farmers committed suicide in the State following failure of their crops due to Phailin and resultant floods. The two deceased farmers were identified as Dasarathi Nayak (32) of Podagarh village, 100 km from here, in Nayagarh district and lakhmidhar Pradhan of Pakhar village in Baleswar district.
Nayak’s family said he was not able to repay the loan which he had taken from some local people to grow vegetables on his four acres of land. After witnessing the crop loss, Nayak lost his mental balance and consumed pesticides. He was taken to a hospital on Wednesday evening where the doctors declared him dead.
According to local police station inspector-in-charge SK Sahu, Nayak’s wife and children said the deceased was upset after his crops were damaged due to the cyclone and subsequent floods. Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP Krushak Morcha led by its State president Maheswar Sahu and former Minister Surama Padhi met the farmer’s family at the village on Friday. The delegation condemned the State Government for not implementing policies for the development of farmers in the State. The leaders also demanded Rs 5 lakh as compensation to Nayak’s family along with other facilities under Government’s social welfare schemes.
Similarly, another farmer lakhmidhar Pradhan allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday when he reportedly failed to repay Rs 30, 000 borrowed from a local people. Pradhan’s crops had been damaged after the field remained submerged for several days, his family members said on Friday.