Yet another farmer succumbs to crop-failure in Odisha under the eyes of an unwilling government
Channel: VideoVolunteers
Date: 2016-03-15

Spectre of drought looms large over the state of Odisha as scanty rainfalls have crushed all the hopes of a fruitful yield for farmers. Heavy debts and crop failure have lead to at least 175 deaths of farmers in the last Kharif season. However, state’s Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy, in a written question by BJP MLA Duryodhan Majhi, said not a single farmer committed suicide due to crop failure or failure to repay loan. The minister instead claimed that these suicides were due to reasons like illness, heart attack, mental disturbance, drug addiction and family quarrel. 

Indramani Singhpur, a 49-year old share-cropper hailing from Berana village of Athagarh constituency in Cuttack district, Odisha is one of the deceased 175 farmers who consumed poison as his 2/3rd acre of cultivated land lay barren. "Our entire crop failed" says Shuklal, Indramani's son. Indramani leaves his son behind to repay loans of about Rs. 25,000. Indramani is one of the many farmers of Odisha who have succumbed to crop failure and failure to repay loans. 

Even while Indramani's widow, Kamala clearly says "The fields did not get water. So he died," the Odisha government stated it is not in favour of providing financial assistance to the families of farmers who committed suicide due to agricultural crisis. 

Raise your voice to get Indramani's family justice and compensation of Rs. 5 lakh due to crop failure and demise of the farmer. CAll the District Collector of Cuttack, Mr. Nirmal Chandra Mishra on +916712508100 and demand action now.

This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent. Community Correspondents come from marginalised communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’  they give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.