B’NGIR FARMER ENDS LIFE UNDER LOAN PRESSURE
Even
as the State Government has announced hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP)
of paddy and the harvestingSeason is all set
to begin, crop loss due to pest attack seems to have forced a loan-burdened
farmer to commit suicide in Balangir district.According to reports, Arjun Bhue
(40) of Duaanpali in Jhankarpali gram panchyat under Balangir Sadar block
allegedly consumed poison on Monday morning. Though he was rushed to the
District Headquarters Hospital, he died there in the evening.
Arjun, a share cropper, had
undertaken paddy cultivation in one and a half acres and brinjal in three and a
half acres of land but his crops were damaged due to pest attack. Arjun had
taken loan from ADB and DCCB to undertake the cultivation works.
A team of officials have visited
Arjun’s agriculture field to verify the crop damage, according to Deputy
Director Agriculture (DDA) Manoranjan Malick. When contacted, district
Collector M Muthukumr said he would comment on the alleged farmer’s death only
after a joint inquiry is conducted by the Sub-Collector, agriculture officials
and RI staffs.
Meanwhile, Zilla Krushak Mahasangha
president Sudhir Parischha has demanded ex-gratia of Rs5 lakh for the
deceased’s family and a Government job for Arjun’s wife. He also demanded
Arjun’s loans be waived.
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