BARGARH : Tension gripped after the body of farmer Jagdish Budek (49), who had consumed pesticide on Thursday afternoon and died on Friday evening in Nuapada District Headquarters Hospital, reached his village Jalagarh in Jharbandh Gram Panchayat under Paikmal block on Saturday. As soon as the body was brought to the village, the villagers, including women and members of BJP and Anchalika Krushaka Sangathan, detained the body and blocked Nuapada-Padampur Biju Expressway near Bus Stand at Jamseth for five hours. The protesters demanded compensation to the family of the deceased, extension of welfare schemes to the widow of Jagdish besides irrigation facilities in drought-prone areas.
The issue was resolved after Paikmal Block Development Officer Sarojini Prasanna Kulu and Additional BDO Purnananada Patel handed over `10,000 to the family under National Family Welfare Scheme and `2,000 under Harischandra Yojana. They also assured the family of providing a house under Indra Awas Yojana. They further impressed upon the villagers that a ground report would be submitted to the State Government and they would work towards ensuring justice to the family of the deceased. Later, the body was cremated.
It is learnt that on Thursday, when the Revenue Inspector of Jamseth came to assess the crop loss in Jalagarh village, Jagdish’s brother went out in search of the farmer. Hoping to see Jagdish in his farm land, he went there only to find him lying in a critical condition.
Family sources said Jagdish took the extreme step after crop on his five-acre land got damaged due to deficit rainfall. They said he was under severe mental strain to repay loan of `1 lakh taken from two banks. Crop loss forced Jagdish to commit suicide, they added.
Govt insensitive to farmers, says Basant
Bargarh: The problem of the farmer is getting aggravated because the farmers are not getting the right price for their produce, said State BJP president Basanta Panda here on Saturday. Panda said there should be paddy traders at panchayat level and they should be given trading licence. When licence can be issued for liquor brewing and trading in minor forest produce, why can’t it be done for paddy, Panda asked. He said by appointing licensed paddy traders, farmers will be assured of minimum support price.
