Day after drought package, farmer ends life in Bargarh

BARGARH : The State Government’s package for drought-hit farmers came as little help for Indra Bariha, who allegedly killed himself over crop loss in Bargarh district. Having consumed pesticide, he succumbed on Wednesday evening. Bariha was a resident of Malamunda village under Gaiselet block of the district. Here, farmers have been facing drought for the last three crop seasons.

According to reports, Indra had cultivated paddy over 1.5 acres of his own land and another three acres of land as a share cropper. He had taken a private loan of `1 lakh to buy fertilisers, pesticides and meet other expenses. He had hoped for good yield when the block received good rainfall in June at 206.5 mm against normal rainfall of 205.6 mm. This was when he started cultivation work. However, the block got 227.4 mm rain in July against normal rainfall of 397.2 mm for the month while it was 213.9 mm in August against normal rainfall of 374.4 mm. Rainfall in September was also less at 139.4 mm against the normal 222.6 mm. Crops started drying up and this left Indra devastated.

His wife Tulasa Barihga and nephew Padmana said Indra was under pressure to repay loan. On Sunday, he consumed pesticide and was rushed to Padampur Sub-Divisional Hospital. When his condition deteriorated on Monday, he was shifted to Bargarh District Headquarters Hospital where he died on Wednesday evening while undergoing treatment.

Gaiselet Tehasildar Sadakar Kumbhar maintained that Indra did not commit suicide over crop loss or loan burden as he did not get any evidence of the farmer availing private loan. Ironically, Kumbhar had earlier stated before media that Malamunda farmers suffered 100 per cent crop loss due to lack of rain. He said Indra had grown paddy over only one acre and the crop was damaged about a month back. He handed over financial support of `10,000 from the Red Cross and ` 2,000 under Harischandra Yojana to the family of  the deceased and said a report on the farmer’s death would be submitted to the State Government. 

The death has taken a political colour with Bijepur by-election round the corner as Gaislet block comes under Bijepur Assembly segment. A delegation of the BJP, led by State BJP vice-president Aswini Sarangi, visited the family of the deceased at Bargarh District Headquarters Hospital. Sarangi said family members of the farmer informed him that Indra committed suicide due to loan burden and crop loss. The State BJP vice-president demanded that the family be paid  compensation of `10 lakh, besides a government job for the widow of Indra.