TWO MORE B’NGIR FARMERS END LIFE Wednesday, 28 October 2015 | PNS | NUAPADA | in Bhubaneswar

STATE EDITIONS

TWO MORE B’NGIR FARMERS END LIFE

Wednesday, 28 October 2015 | PNS | NUAPADA | in Bhubaneswar

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Two more farmers of Balangir district died on Monday night after consuming pesticide reportedly due to crop loss and loan burden.

Five distressed farmers of the district have so far ended their lives in the last 15 days.

Pari Nag (40) of Batharla village of Gandharla gram panchayat in Bongomunda block had undertaken paddy cultivation in two acres of land and cotton in one acre. Due to scanty rainfall, all his paddy crops were damaged. Pari had consumed poison on October 25 evening and was admitted in the Mission Hospital, Khariar. He died on Monday night.

Pari and his two brothers own the three acres. While Pari undertook cultivation, his brothers migrated to other cities for earning their livelihoods.

“Pari had borrowed money from local moneylenders for agriculture work. He was depressed for sometime as crops were damaged,” said his elder brother Ajit Nag.

The other debt-ridden farmer who died after consuming pesticide was one Kruttibas Gahir of Ramdu village under Tureikela block. He ended his life as his paddy and cotton crops failed due to drought.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Adhiraj Panigrahi alleged that Pari died due to State Government’s negligence. Similarly, BJP leader Sanjay Tiwari demanded compensation of Rs5 lakh for Pari’s family.

In view of farmer suicides rising in this region, both Congress and BJP leaders have planned to stage dharnas and public meetings at different places of Nuapada district.

Congress would stage a massive rally in Sinapali block on October 30 to protest the State Government alleged negligence towards the farmers. PCC president Prasad Harichandan, Opposition Leader in State Assembly Narasingha Mishra, Bhakta Dash, Srikanta Jena, Jayadev Jena and Pradip Majhi are likely to attend the rally, informed Panigrahi.

He said Congress demands Rs25,000 of compensation per acre of crop loss and declaration Nuapada district as drought-hit. BJP MLA Duryodhan Majhi and Tiwari said their party would launch block wise protest to raise farmers’ problems.