SAMBALPUR: With drought looming, three suicide cases of farmers have shaken the community sending a grim reminder of the impending situation.On Sunday, Dhananjaya Pradhan (35) of Sarla village in Bargarh district allegedly attempted suicide. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital only to be declared brought dead. A day later, another farmer, K Chakrabarty Rao (45) of Talpadar village in Dhankauda block of Sambalpur district consumed pesticide.And on Tuesday, Upendra Rajhansa of Tumgaon village under Sohela police limits in Bargarh district was found hanging. These farmers seem to be caught in debt trap and harassed by private land sharks and ‘middlemen.’ Upendra, already burdened with loan, was waiting for Government compensation for kharif crop loss as announced. After his death, a cheque of `1,600 was handed over towards crop loss. His wife Santoshini, naib sarpanch of Garbhanga gram panchayat, said the family had availed of heavy loan. Upendra had taken a private loan of about `60,000, mortgaged gold and even sold a piece of land. Sohela Tehsildar Tanmaya Kumar Darwan visited the family and handed over a cheque of `10,000 along with the crop loss compensation amount. Dhananjaya, who died on Monday, was under severe pressure after being constantly harassed and assaulted by a money-lender. After his death, when angry villagers confronted the money-lender, he agreed to pay `1 lakh to the family.While no official visited the bereaved family, Bargarh Tehsildar Gautam Chaudhury said the Revenue Inspector has been directed to visit the village and submit a report. He cited his preoccupation with Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyuti Karan Yojana for his inability to personally visit the village. The third farmer, Rao, owned three acres of land and had taken another 20 acres on lease. But crop loss due to pest attack and untimely rain devastated him forcing him to sell his land. It is said he had availed of private loan of about `8 lakh and was under tremendous pressure. Several farmers’ bodies have time and again attributed such suicides to denial of loan by banks. Private loan comes in handy with heavy interest and takes a toll on the poor farmers. Farmer leader Ashok Pradhan said Rao was a role model in the area and was hardworking. If the State Government does not act fast and change the system, such suicides will continue, he lamented.
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