Inquiry in Orissa to discern reason for farmer suicides

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Committing suicide is a crime, both legally and morally and those who are doing so are cowards. Even life insurance companies do not answer claims for suicides. So, if this is true, the government should not try to buy these deaths.

CJ: biruda

Sun, Nov 15, 2009 10:41:38 IST

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Orissa News :

THE TOLL of farmer suicides in Orissa, has gone up to seven and it is spreading like a disease. The political parties, instead of trying to resolve the issue, are trying their level best to get mileage out of it.

The suicides are happening primarily due to crop failure and pest attacks. Due to pressure, the state government has announced a loan package for the farmers. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had already ordered a high level administrative inquiry into the series of suicides. The Agricultural Production Commissioner (APC) has been directed to make field visits and inquire into the incidents. While writing this report, another suicide case was reported from Dhenkanal district.

Would the enquiry unearth anything new? This is not the first year of crop loss and failure in Orissa. Have the suicides occurred due to this reason or is there some other reason behind it. The enquiry should focus on the average age of the farmers who are committing suicide and has the loan waiver given in the previous aided the families of such farmers in any way, which has encouraged these farmers to commit suicides and get the loan wavier benefit for their families.

This horrifying speculation may be true, as the rehabilitation package for the families of such farmers has been increased over the years. If this is true, the government should put a stop at such practices.

Committing suicide is a crime, both legally and morally and those who are committing this crime are cowards. Even life insurance companies do not entertain a death claim if it happens due to suicide. So, if this is the case, then the government should not try to buy these deaths, but ensure that people do not resort to such measures.

Till now, only eight cases have been reported and we are not that much clear whether all the deaths are caused due to the same reasons of loan burden and crop failure. In this state, thousands of children are dying due to malnutrition, malaria related deaths are high and the MMR status is quite alarming.

These issues require to be addressed on a more immediate basis, than farmer suicides. However it is not so. Though the Chief minister did not take up these deaths on a priority basis, the suddenly announced package means that he has surrendered to vote bank politics.

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