Farmers’ Suicide Toll crosses 50 in Odisha

According to Odisha’s leading Daily, ‘Sambad’, at least 50 farmers have committed suicide across Odisha in less than 30 days. Seven people committed suicide on Monday, while 4 deaths were reported (two from Western Odisha, one each from Keonjhar and Balasore) Tuesday. On Wednesday, Bogo Paika, a farmer from Nabarangpur reportedly ended his life.

According to another leading Daily, ‘Prameya’, 24 farmers committed suicide in the last 10 days itself, showing the gravity of the situation. The drought package, CM’s assurance and Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy’s appeal have failed to bring any results so far.

Western Odisha (Balangir, Bargarh, Nuapada etc.) is worst-hit by farmers’ suicide, while other districts such as Keonjhar, Balasore, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Sundargarh etc. are also facing drought crisis, which has led to rising cases of farmers’ suicide.