Is Orissa going Vidharba way

By Anurjay Dhal

BHUBANESWAR: The increasing cases of farmer suicides in eastern Indian State of Orissa, has brought national attention with both opposition Congress and BJP demanding resignation of Chief Minister Naveen PatnaikNaveen Patnaik and State Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout.

At least 18 farmers have been committed suicide in the State in past one month due to crop loss and less rainfall. The deaths were reported from State’s Western districts of Sambalpur, Balangir and Jharsuguda, costal districts of Jajpur and Cuttack and southern districts of Nabarangpur.

On November 5, at least three farmers committed suicide. According to reports, Baldeb Barik of Keseipalli village under Loisingha block of Bolangir district allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide.

In another incident, Dhanu Champia a farmer from Balisamla village near Salepur in Cuttack district consumed poison and he died after battling for life at SCB medical college and hospital for last three days.

The third victim, Ugrasen Mahananda from Khatkhatia village under Kantamal block of Boudh district allegedly committed suicide over crop loss and loan burden.

Succumbing to the pressure of both Congress and BJP, the ruling Biju Janata Dal Government led by Patnaik, has announced few paltry packages for the farmers.

The Government has announced to give Rs 4000 per hector of irrigated land in case of crop loss while; the amount is Rs 2,000 per hectare for non-irrigated land.

Besides, the Government would invest Rs 300 crore on renovation of minor irrigation projects, besides digging of about one lakh farm ponds in land owned by small and marginal farmers.

But these soups failed to convince the dept-ridden farmers in the State. In 2007 more than 1, 22,637 in the country committed suicide. This indicates an increase of 3.8 per cent over the previous year’s figure of 1, 18,118.

In Orissa, suicide among farmers has increased 7 per cent. The overall suicide is 10.9 per cent, which is 1 per cent higher than the national average. Data reveals, 22.3 per cent died due to illness, 23.8 per cent committed suicide due to poverty, 2.7 per cent due to bankruptcy and sudden change in economic status.

In 2009 among 18, more than 10 farmers killed themselves because of bankruptcy and sudden change in economic status, due to loss in cultivation. This year the monsoon is delayed and the rain was 36 per cent lower than the average.

In the State about 75 per cent of the total workforce depends on agriculture. The crop area is about 87.46 lakh hectares of which 18.79 lakh hectares are irrigated. Climate and soil play a vital role in Orissa’s agricultural economy.

The state has been divided into four major environmental zones and northwestern Orissa falls in the highly moisture deficit zone. In such an environment western Orissa accounts for 40 percent share in rice cultivation.

Implementing different schemes such as the AIBP, RIDE, BKVY, RR and R, Bharat Nirman, Biju Krushak Vikash Yojana, Panipanchayat and the RLTAP has developed irrigation facilities.

The two project proposals - Mahanadi Basin Development Plan (MBDP) for Mahanadi Basin and Orissa Integrated Irrigated Agriculture and Water Management Project (OIWMP) for Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Subernarekha basins, but the outcome is still questionable.

“We demand an enquiry through NHRC into alleged suicide by at least two farmers,” Orissa Congress chief and former Union Minister KP Singh Deo said. BJP national vice-president Jual Oram also demanded resignation of Chief Minister.

The Government’s failure to provide irrigation facilities and loan at lowest interest rate, has forced the farmers community to adopt such path by ending their lives,” said Padmaja Devadata, executive director, Bhubaneswar based Central for Rural Development and Research.