Nabarangpur: An inquiry was ordered Sunday into the death of a 42-year-old tribal woman farmer, who allegedly committed suicide due to debt burden in Nabarangpur district, an official said.
The woman, Padmabati Muduli, a woman of Aunligumma village in Lamtaguda panchayat under Tentulikhunti block of the district allegedly consumed pesticide Friday night and died at a hospital the next day.
District Collector Ajit Mishra said, “The district administration has taken the incident very seriously and ordered an inquiry by the tehsildar and the block development officer of Tentulikhunti.”
He said the administration has paid Rs 12,000 from two funds to the family of Padmabati.
Her husband Madhab Muduli said Padmabati had taken Rs 30,000 loan from a private finance company through a local self-help group for cultivation of paddy and maize in the family’s land by the side of river Indravati.
However, the crops were damaged as the Indravati dam project authorities opened the sluice gates during the recent heavy rain, said Madhab.
It was being alleged that finance company had threatened Padmabati that her house would be confiscated if she failed to repay the next installment scheduled for September 10.
Asked about private finance companies mushrooming in the district, the Collector said the administration would take necessary steps.
Padmabati took the extreme step Friday night. The family rushed her to a nearby hospital. Later, she was shifted to the district headquarters hospital where she died. Leaders of various political parties have demanded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh for the bereaved family.
PNN
