Sagarpali farmer death: an eye opening for farmers

The farmer’s death in Sagarpali village in Jharsuguda district seemed to be an eye opener for the farmers of the locality who have been suffering the injustice ever since the construction of the Hirakud dam. The farmers have decided to bring out a massive agitation against the government’s wrong policy and to start with the proposed agitation they are going to block the NH 200 at Bhainrkhol chowck on Monday from 8 am to 4 pm.

“It is really a matter of regret that farmer of our village dies committing suicide for crop loss due to poor rainfall. Surprisingly the village got reconstructed near the old-one after that was submerged in Hirakud reservoir. We reside on the bank of reservoir ever since the dam was constructed but due to wrong policy of the government we do not get reservoir water for irrigation”, a villager of Sagarpali, Bhaskar Pradhan told. “One can understand our sorrow of net getting the benefit of the dam where 70 percent of our village has been submerged. No one realizes the contribution that our forefathers”, Pradhan added.

Sources said, a farmer of the village Gurahari Patra died committing suicide on 4^th Oct following a heavy loss of crop due to poor rainfall and insects.

“He was farming seriously by taking cooperative loan of Rs. 20 thousand. But he was mentally upset after seeing heavy crop damages. He committed suicide consuming pesticide leaving his widow and 4 son and daughters” another villager Panchan Saa told.

According to him villagers become angry following the statement of the concern minister and district officials on the death of Gourahari. “When every one knows his death has a direct link with the crop loss, one should not give derogative statement on him with out verifying the truth”, villager Loknath Sahu opined.

Meanwhile, a team of state communist party visited the village to console deceased family on Sunday. Even becoming the alliance partner, the CPI demanded proper attention of the government on this issue. “We affirm the death was due to crop loss so with out making any delay in setting inquiry commission the CM Navin Patink should intervene the matter to prevent such cases in the state.”, state secretariat member Ashok Bishi told to TOI on Sunday. Surprisingly even 14 days after the incident, the collector has not visited the village to console the deceased family