One more farmer allegedly committed suicide in Nuapada district on Saturday, adding to the unabated number of cultivators’ deaths despite drought package announced by the State Government recently.
Gendaram Majhi, a resident of Kuliabandha village under Nuapada Sadar block ended life by consuming poison at his home allegedly due to loan burden. Majhi had cultivated paddy over five and a half acres of land for which he had availed loans amounting to Rs15, 000 from friends and relatives and an amount of Rs25,000 from a cooperative bank.
He had been depressed due to bad crops owing to deficient rainfall this monsoon and took the extreme step.
He was rushed to Nuapada hospital in a serious condition where he died. Following this, BJP leaders sat on a dharna demanding compensation to the deceased’s family. BJP legislature Party leader and local MlA Basant Panda visited met family members of the deceased at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross has donated Rs15,000 as compensation to the family of the deceased. Notably, a few blocks of Nuapada district had been added to drought-hit list two days ego. According to reports, a farmer belonging to Bhadrak district died late on Thursday night after consuming poison. Anakar Behera (52) of Tihidi block had consumed poison three days ago after being frustrated over crop loss and was undergoing treatment at the District Hq’s Hospital here. He had taken a loan of Rs30,000 from a cooperative bank, sources said.