Press Trust of India
Nabarangpur: A 46-year-old farmer and a daily labourer, Shiva Prasad Bhotra, who had consumed pesticide four days ago, died at the district headquarters hospital here Tuesday.
“My husband committed suicide as the kharif crop failed this time,” claimed Sunadei, the deceased farmer’s widow.
Villagers said Shiva was found lying in an unconscious state under a tree four days ago. Some villagers then took him to the hospital.
Meanwhile, district collector Rashmita Panda said, “The exact reason behind Shiva Prasad’s death has not yet been ascertained.” Panda also said an official team has been formed and directed to submit a detail report on the incident.
Panda said Shiva was getting disabled pension of Rs 300 per month. He was also covered under the Indira Awas Yojana and his family was getting 35 kg of rice monthly under the Antyodoya Yojana. He also had a Kissan Credit Card, the collector.
In 2013-14, the farmer had taken a cooperative loan of Rs 13,000, it was learnt.
The district administration paid Rs 10,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs 5,000 from the district Red Cross Fund and Rs 2,000 under the state-sponsored Harishchandra Yojana to the bereaved family immediately after Shiva’s death, said Panda.
Former MP Pradeep Majhi and DCC president Narayan Patro after meeting the family members of Shiva alleged that the farmer had committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden.
They demanded that the state government should admit that the farmer had committed suicide and thus pay a compensation of `10 lakh to the deceased farmer’s family. The incident came close on the heels of a farmer suicide in Bargarh district. PNN
