Bolangir/Loisingha: Basudev Bhoi (42) and Yashobant Pandey (27), two farmers of Ghusuramunda under Loisingha block, had committed suicide last year over crop loss and debt burden.
Even as their families are yet to come to terms with the loss of their bread earners, they have geared up to fight it out by raising crops this kharif season and set an example for others.
“A farmer’s family never gives up,” say Basudev’s wife Aruna and Yashobant’s mother Sanjukta, giving a message to the society.
Aruna’s family including her two daughters, a son, mother-in-law and her sister was completely dependent on Basudev. He took the burden of his in-laws since Aruna’s father had no successors.
However, he was crestfallen after the crops which he raised in about five acres of land were damaged. Basudev was under severe mental stress to repay loans of over `1 lakh. These circumstances, led him to commit suicide by consuming pesticide.
The district administration handed over `20,000 to the family in the name of compensation while they received another `10,000 from a farmers’ outfit.
But Aruna made up her mind to overcome the situation. She asked other members of her household to not lose hope. Her firm determination reflected this season when she came forward to invest in cultivation. Despite having a burden of over `1 lakh, Aruna, who works as a cook in mid-day-meal programme of a school, has started farming taking hand loans.
She also manages to finance the education of her elder daughter Sushama, a Plus III student of Kushanga College. Her second daughter Sasmita studies in Class IX while son is in Plus II.
“Though several organisations, agriculture officials and investigating lawyers had promised a lot following the death of my husband, nothing was done in this direction,” Aruna lamented.
She also has not received farming kit distributed by the government this year, Aruna said. Despite the adverse conditions, the widow is determined to fight it out for her family, villagers said.
Likewise, Sanjuka, the mother of Yashobant, who hanged himself over crop loss and debt burden, has also decided to resume agricultural activities with her younger son Sumant.
Despite having an ailing mother-in-law at home to look after, Sanjukta has sowed paddy seeds in her two acres of farmland. She had borrowed seeds from a neighbour on the promise of returning them after harvest. Besides, she has to clear a loan of `30,000 taken by her late son. The family had received `20,000 from the administration but a major chunk of the amount was spent on the post- death rituals.
“No official of agriculture department offered any assistance to my family after my son’s death. Despite this, I want to make a fortune from cultivation with the help of my younger son,” a determined Sanjukta said. PNN
