This Article is From Mar 17, 2010

Orissa tragedy: Once displaced, now suicidal

Sambalpur, Orissa: Over 40 farmers in Orissa engaged in rain-fed farming ended their lives between September and December last year following a total crop loss because of a bad monsoon. Seventy-five per cent of agricultural operations in Orissa depends completely on rains and even areas close to major irrigation projects are still deprived of irrigation cover.

As NDTV found out, families which were displaced 50 years ago when Hirakud, one of India's biggest river dam projects was built are yet to enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice.

Bidu Kisan was among the five small farmers in Sambalpur district who killed themselves in November last year. Bidu took pesticide after a bad monsoon and subsequent pest attack destroyed his crop.

He had taken five acres on lease and a loan of 15,000 rupees at 25 per cent interest from a local self-help group.

The government says his death had nothing to do with crop failure, a claim his family disputes.

"It was all because of the crop loss. He was deeply worried about repayment of debts and chose to end his life", says Deepa, Bidu's widow.

Ironically, Bidu's family is among those displaced 50 years ago by the Hirakud dam project. While big industrial units continue to draw water from the reservoir farmers in this village, that's barely 20 kms away, have to depend on the mercy of the rain God, even today.

Draupadi Bag, a villager, Khapsadera says, "We don't get water even for a decent bath, don't you see how farmers are killing themselves because there's no water for their fields? "

Ranjan Panda, Secretary, Water Initiatives, Sambalpur, "The government is talking of subsidy for pump sets, when there is no source in the villages to pump out water from. Water is a basic need and people here have been demanding irrigation facility. The government is yet to act on that."

Seventy-five per cent of Orissa's agriculture is rain-fed and over 80 per cent of farmers small and marginal. With input costs rising and no hope of getting irrigation facilities or insurance cover just one erratic monsoon is as bad as poison.
 
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