Three farmers commit suicide in Orissa, toll 17
Three more cultivators in Orissa committed suicide on November 5 due to crop loss and subsequent loan burden. It has pushed the toll of farmers suicide to 17 and more such death are likely to take place if the state government does not take action.
BALADEV BARIK of Kaseipali village of Agalpur block in Balangir district consumed insecticides after he lost his entire crop due to pest attack, sources said. "We found Baladev unconscious in his paddy firm and rushed him to Loisinga medical centre, but the doctor declared him dead," a villager said. The deceased had taken Rs. 20,000 as loan from a co-operative society and other sources and cultivated three acres of land, but all went in vain as he lost crops from pest attack, his family members said.
Besides, Dhana Munda alias Sankua, a farmer of Balisamala village of Salipur block in Cuttack district died in the SCB Medical College Hospital. He was under treatment after attempting suicide. The third case of suicide was in Boudh district. Ugrasen Mahanadia (45) of Khatkhatia village of Kantamala block immolated himself since he could not repay his debt of around Rs. 35,000 as his entire harvest was lost.
However, the state government is still a silent spectator ignoring continuous agitations and protests by the opposition BJP and Congress. "Even, after 17 cases of farmers’ suicide, the government is not ready to accept the truth and mitigate the sufferings of farmers," Satya Swaroop Panda, a student leader of NSUI said. The government should immediately provide compensation to the family of all 17 farmers and introduce conducive policies to stop any further case of suicide, he demanded.
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