Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy has appealed to the farmers across the State not to resort to the extreme step of committing suicide due to crop loss and loan burden as it would declare additional drought package for the affected farmers, if need be.
Reacting to the reports of unabated farmer suicides, Maharathy said, “The department would submit its final report by November 1st week. I appeal to all the farmers to have patience and trust on the Government and not to commit suicide. The Government will announce additional package for them, if need be.”
Earlier on Oct 14, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced drought assistance to the farmers facing crop loss of 33 per cent and above.
As many as 123 blocks in 16 districts have been drought-hit. Baleswar, Boudh, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Puri, Subarnapur, Balangir, Nuapada, Jharsuguda and Bargarh have been declared as drought-affected districts due to scanty rainfall.
The 123 blocks facing drought-like situation have suffered crop loss of more than 33 per cent and would be covered under the Rs.1,000-crore special package announced by the Chief Minister, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Bijoyshree Routray had said.
With farmer suicides continuing, Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan has demanded that the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister meet the family members of the deceased and announced adequate compensation to them.
Notably, three more distressed farmers ended life by consuming poison in Jajpur and Cuttack districts on Saturday. Debendra Mohapatra of Khetrapal village in the Dharmasala area of Jajpur district had consumed pesticide four days ago. He was admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack in a serious condition. After struggling for last four days he could not be saved and was declared dead by the doctors.
The other case of suicide was that of one Hadibandhu Mallick reported from Cuttack district. Mallick from Kumarpur village in the Gurudijhatia area in the district had consumed poison on Friday after which he was admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital. He lost his life on Saturday.
As per reports, Mallick, a sharecropper, had cultivated paddy in nearly four acre land. Due to deficient rainfall, the crops were damaged following which he was under stress.
Ramesh Rout of Nayanand village in Bhadrak district also died after he consumed poison.