A public hearing on farmers’ suicide was conducted at Bhawanipatna on Wednesday in presence of relatives of farmers who committed suicide in Kalahandi district.
Family members of deceased farmers said crop loss and loan burden forced their kin to take the extreme step in life.
The public hearing was organised jointly by the Krushak Sangharsha Samiti, Kalahandi and the Western Odisha Farmers’ Coordination Committee.
Committee convenor Ashok Pradhan, Prof Ashok Kumar Nanda, lawyer Tarun Kumar Bhoi and social activist Saudamini Sahu attended as jury members.
Farmer leader lingaraj opined that the agriculture policy is not pro-people. “Farmers have lost their dignity. We have to struggle hard to restore it,” he said.
Earlier, such a public hearing had been organised at Bargarh on December 21. The next one would be held at Khariar in Nuapada district in February,” said Sanjay Tiwari, convenor of the Krushak Sakti Sangathana, Khariar.