The Ganatantrik Adhikar Suraksha Sangathan (GASS) had recently conducted a survey on the farmers’ suicide in the State in eight districts — Cuttack, Jajpur, Khordha, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Baleswar and Kendrapada.
According to the survey report released here on Sunday, small and marginal farmers, landless agricultural workers, women and children from dalit and tribal communities are the worst victims of drought.
The GASS took a sample of 36 victim families in these districts. According to the fact finding report, 61 per cent of the families are included in backward classes, 19 per cent in scheduled tribe category, 8 per cent from dalit and tribal communities and 4 per cent from the general category.
From the sampled families of those who have committed suicide, 11 per cent were landless farmers. Rest 89 per cent farmers had land of about 2.5 acre each. They were all depending on paddy cultivation. They all used to buy pesticides from the market and 64 per cent used tractors in lend, the report informed.
All the 36 families had taken loan of about Rs 1,15,458, and 30 per cent of them took loan from the village Sahukars (moneylenders).
The report also revealed that due to the drought condition, 89 per cent sharecroppers committed suicide while 42 per cent farmers ended life for repeated crop losses. About 50 per cent committed suicide due to loan burden.
GASS members criticised that the Collectors of all these districts did not agree that the farmers committed suicide due to agriculture loan.
The GASS members gave a proposal to roll out investment of national companies in agriculture. They also demanded irrigation facility and social security for farmers, who should also be identified.
The report on farmers’ suicide was released by farmer activist Natabara Sadangi in the presence of GASS president Dr Golakha Bihari Nath, Deba Ranjan and Sunakar Bal.
Attending as a guest, farmer activist Saroj Mohanty said that as the objectives of the farmers and the Government are different, the farmers suffer a lot. While farming is the only livelihood of farmers, the Government is focussing on economic growth through agriculture, he added.
Activist Ranjana Padhi said, “To live, we all need food, and farmers are the main suppliers of food. If agriculture is in a mess then our food security will be affected.”
Farmer activist Bandhu Muduli explained about the torture of moneylenders in the villages who are grabbing poor farmers’ land with the help of police.