Unable To Repay Loan, Farmer Ends Life In Odisha’s Balasore

A farmer in Shalikotha village under Balasore’s Jaleswar block ended life by consuming poison after he allegedly failed to repay farm loan.

The deceased has been identified as Laxmi Narayan Jena who, as per reports, had taken loan to grow paddy on two acres of land.

However, his crop suffered extensive damage due to pests attack and Jena incurred huge losses that reportedly sent him into depression.

Apparently under severe depression, Jena allegedly consumed poison in a bid to end his life. He was initially rushed to the Jaleswar Hospital. However, he was later taken to the SCB Hospital in Cuttack after his condition deteriorated. He succumbed while on the way.

Dillip Kumar Jena, the Son of Laxmi Narayan, said, “We had grown paddy on 2 acres of land and for this we had taken a loan of Rs 1 lakh. However, after Chakada Pest ruined our crop we suffered huge losses. My father was under tremendous mental stress following the crop loss. Unable to cope with the situation, he consumed poison,” said Dillip.

Speaking to reporters, the Block Agriculture Officer, Sanjay Kumar Rout said, “We do not have any information pertaining to any suicide by a farmer. Neither has any of his family members lodged a complaint with this office.”

Earlier in August this year, a farmer in Sambalpur committed suicide allegedly over distress sell of paddy. The family of the deceased had alleged that unseasonal rain caused flooding of the farm land, damaging the crop.

The loan they had taken for the crop became a burden and it was reportedly the reason that drove the farmer to commit the extreme act.