Bhubaneswar/ Bolangir/ Sambalpur: While the State is grappling with a possible-drought situation two farmer suicides have been reported in Bolangir and Sambalpur districts.
In Patnagarh sub-division of Bolangir district, one farmer Bhakta Dharua allegedly committed suicide unable to bear the debt burden. According to his wife, in the year 2000, Dharua took a loan of Rs 17,000 at 11% interest and bought a water pump. However, unable to repay the loan in the stipulated time he was served a notice by the bank. Moreover, due to lack of rainfall in the current season he lost majority of his crop in his 4-acre land which he was cultivating on a sharing basis.
On account of this, he was under severe mental stress which drove Dharua to hang himself from a tree, informed family sources. After receiving reports, Police arrived at the spot and have seized his dead body.
In another such incident, farmer allegedly committed suicide over crop loss in Sambalpur today. According to sources, the deceased has been identified as the Sanatan Mirdha belonging to Jharjhari under Jujumara police limits.
The family members of the deceased have alleged that unable to cope up with the stress due to crop loss Mirdha took away his life.
Meanwhile, Agriculture minister, Pradeep Maharathy has expressed grief over the reports. Moreover, Maharathy has also sought report from district administration and agricultural officials.
State BJP president KV Singhdeo, who met family members of the deceased farmer in Patnagarh earlier in the day, said, “The State government should immediately declare drought in these areas and waive off loans of the affected people.”
Similarly, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Farmers’ suicide is not new in the state. The government is yet to provide any assistance in the drought-hit areas.”
Further, he stated, in Jeypore, farmers have not yet got money after selling paddy at the market yards.
“The chief minister has no moral rights to be in the power,” Bahinipati added.