BHUBANESWAR: Though over 150 farmers have committed suicide in the State during the last one year, the State Government still does not admit that they had taken their lives due to agricultural activities.
In a written reply to a question from Shyam Charan Hansdah (Congress), Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout claimed that none of the 2,632 farmer suicides during the last 10 years in Orissa was triggered by reasons connected with agriculture.
Rejecting Opposition allegations that farmers in large numbers committed suicide either due to debt trap or repeated crop failure, Rout admitted that 2,632 farmers committed suicide but these were not linked to crop failure or loan burden.
The Minister, however, admitted that 2,575 farmers had ended their lives between 2000 and 2008, according to the figures given by the State Crime Bureau. So far, 57 farmers have ended their lives during 2009 and up to November 15 this year, he said.
According to the figures provided by the State Crime Bureau, highest number of 378 farmers had committed suicide in 2004 followed by 365 in 2003 and 345 in 2002.
The issue of farmers’ suicide cropped up for discussion in the Assembly today with the members alleging that the insensitiveness of the State Government towards their problems has resulted in this. Several members advised the State Government to admit that farmers are taking their lives unable to bear the loan burden or repeated crop failure.