Loisingha: Bolangir experienced one of the worst water crises last year due to prolonged spell of droughts coupled with record heat leading to heavy crops loss in the district. Losingha block, one of the worst hit areas, witnessed suicidal deaths of three farmers.
These farmers left the world leaving behind their debts and loan burdens on the shoulders of their wives. However, while the administration failed to come to the rescue of these bereaved women, co-villagers have gone an extra mile to bring smile back to these widows’ face.
For example, locals extended a helping hand to one of these widows and appointed her as a cook in the village primary school.
Basudev Bhoi (42), a tribal sharecropper of Ghusuramunda village under Budipadar panchayat, committed suicide October, 2015. The incident triggered tension in the block. A compensation of `20, 000 was provided to Basudev’s widow Aruna Bhoi after his death. A newly formed Krushna Sangha also provided `10, 000 to Aruna.
However, these compensations hardly brought any change in Aruna’s life. She was left distressed with the leftover debt burdens. The administration forgot her as soon as the media stopped writing about the sad demise of her husband due under debt burden.
She is now the sole bread-earner of her family of six.
The spectre of debts left behind by Basudev still haunts Aruna. However, locals have come to her rescue and have placed her as cook of the village primary school. Tears of happiness rolled down the cheeks of Aruna as she expressed gratitude to the fellow villagers.
Basudev was married to Aruna. He was the sole bread-earner of his family of six persons including his mother-in-law, sister-in-law, two daughters and a son. With no farmland of his own, he had cultivated five acres taken on lease from fellow villagers. However, the crop was hit by drought and pest attack.
Buried under loads of debts, Basudev committed suicide by consuming poison in his farmland. Family members rescued and admitted him to Loisingha health centre. He was later shifted to VSS Medical College and Hospital. However, he breathed his during treatment.
Irate locals held demonstration on National Highway-26 demanding compensation for Basudev’s family. However, the issue got politicised and government help eluded her. Several politicians visited Aruna and promised fake help. However, with the passage of time, even these fake assurances also faded away.
The administration and politicians shed crocodile tears,’ Aruna said. However, my co-villagers have given me a reason to live, Aruna said, adding let the administration learn something from my village people, she added. PNN