With drought looming, three suicide cases of farmers have shaken the community sending a grim reminder of the impending situation.
On Sunday, Dhananjaya Pradhan (35) of Sarla village in Bargarh district allegedly attempted suicide. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital only to be declared brought dead.
A day later, another farmer, K Chakrabarty Rao (45) of Talpadar village in Dhankauda block of Sambalpur district consumed pesticide.
And on Tuesday, Upendra Rajhansa of Tumgaon village under Sohela police limits in Bargarh district was found hanging. These farmers seem to be caught in debt trap and harassed by private land sharks and ‘middlemen.’ Upendra, already burdened with loan, was waiting for� Government compensation for kharif crop loss as announced.
After his death, a cheque of `1,600 was handed over towards crop loss. His wife Santoshini, naib sarpanch of Garbhanga gram panchayat, said the family had availed of heavy loan. Upendra had taken a private loan of about `60,000, mortgaged gold and even sold a piece of land. Sohela Tehsildar Tanmaya Kumar Darwan visited the� family and handed over a cheque of `10,000 along with the crop loss compensation amount.
Dhananjaya, who died on Monday, was under severe pressure after being constantly harassed and assaulted by a money-lender. After his death, when angry villagers confronted the money-lender, he� agreed to pay `1 lakh to the family.
While no official visited the bereaved family, Bargarh Tehsildar Gautam Chaudhury said the Revenue Inspector has been directed to visit the village and submit a report. He cited his preoccupation with� Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyuti Karan Yojana for his inability to personally visit the village.
The third farmer, Rao, owned three acres of land and had taken another 20 acres on lease. But crop loss due to pest attack and untimely rain devastated him forcing him to sell his land. It is said he had availed of private loan of about `8 lakh and was under tremendous pressure.
Several farmers’ bodies have time and again attributed such suicides to denial of loan by banks. Private loan comes in handy with heavy interest and takes a toll on the poor farmers.
�Farmer leader Ashok Pradhan said Rao was a role model in the area and was hardworking. If the State Government does not act fast and change the system, such suicides will continue, he lamented.
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Hours after farmers Dhananjay Pradhan and Upendra Rajhansa ended their lives, their wives are looking for money to perform the last rites.
Both had taken their lives unable to repay the loans they had availed of.Dhananjay of Sarla village under Bargarh police limits, who was declared brought dead in Bargarh Government Hospital, is survived by his wife Sebati and two daughters Manisha (5) and Nibedita (2).
He had to shoulder the family burden from the age of 20 after his father expired. He was financially broken with a meagre land holding of 1.5 acres which led him to take the extreme step.
Now, all the responsibility has fallen on Sebati, who is unsure of the road ahead. She has no money to even conduct the last rites of her husband.
Upendra’s wife of Santoshini of Tumgaon village under Sohela police limits too is struggling to gather funds to perform his funeral rites.
The couple had married off their two daughters while the younger one Sunita is studying in Class VII. Son Birsa has dropped plans to join college as he has to shoulder the family burden.
After marrying off both daughters in two successive years, Upendra mortgaged the little property, comprising the ornaments of his wife and part of his 2.5 acres land. Upendra had taken a private loan of about Rs 60,000 and another Rs 25,000 against the mortgaged ornaments.
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