HEMGIR (SUNDARGARH):A day after the inquiry report claimed that farmer Manoj Singh’s suicide was not due to crop loss and debt burden, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Sundargarh MLA of Congress Yogesh Singh separately visited the bereaved family on Wednesday and came down heavily on the State Government on the farm crisis.
Oram, during his visit to Hemgir block of Sundargarh district, met the family of Manoj at Kuanrkela village of Garjanjor gram panchayat. The Union Minister said Manoj committed suicide after failing to cope up with crop loss and debt burden. “The BJD Government in Odisha continues to be insensitive and callous to the miserable plight of distressed farmers. The government is responsible for the death of Manoj,”Oram said.
“After visiting some of the paddy fields, I found farmers suffering from crop loss. Moreover, there was absolutely no coordination between the Revenue and Agriculture departments to assess the farm distress,” the Minister added. Oram was accompanied by Sundargarh unit president of BJP BK Mishra and other party leaders.
Hours after Oram’s departure, Congress MLA Singh landed at the house of the deceased farmer. Singh, quoting his family members, said Manoj had taken loans from Luabahal LAMPS and two private micro-finance SHGs. Due to debt burden, Manoj was in duress and following the crop loss due to pest attack, he committed suicide, the MLA said.
Manoj (49) had consumed pesticide at his house and died on Monday night. However, on basis of the administrative inquiry report, Sundargarh Collector Vineet Bhardwaj on Tuesday said debt burden and crop loss were not the reason behind the farmer’s suicide.
Farmers seek crop loss relief
Dhenkanal: Farmers of Kamakshyanagar sub-division have demanded immediate compensation for crop loss due to unseasonal rain. As per reports, 45 hectares (ha) of paddy have been inundated by rainwater in Badasuanla gram panchyat (GP). Similarly, 43 ha in Baligorada, 42 ha in Bainsia, 10 ha in Kanpura, 30 ha in Sogar GP have been submerged following the untimely rains. Besides, hundreds of hectares in Baruna, Bhiorpur and Budhibili have also been inundated. Paddy crops in 22 GPs have been damaged, sources said. The inquiry report of the administration stated that crops over 1280 ha have been damaged in the district. Deputy Director of Agriculture Chhabindra Behera said the State Government will take a decision on payment of crop loss compensation to farmers.