The controversy sparked by the suicide of 49-year-old Rajeev, a paddy farmer in Upper Kuttanad, continued to rage with a United Democratic Front (UDF) delegation led by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan visiting family members of the deceased at Niranom here on Tuesday.
Terming the incident unfortunate, Mr. Satheesan launched a scathing attack on the State government for its continuing apathy towards the farmers. According to him, the recurring crop loss due to climatic variations and delay in receiving compensation forced the farmer to end his life.
“The damage to crop every year has become a major burden on the farmers like him. The summer rain in the previous year had destroyed his crops in about nine acres of land, but the compensation he received was just ₹2,500. While a case against this inadequate sum had been under consideration of the High Court, he yet again suffered a crop damage,” Mr. Satheesan said.
Holding that a majority of the farmers in Kuttanad were on the verge of suicide, Mr. Satheesan urged the State government to procure the paddy destroyed by the summer rain. “The government should also take of Rajeev’s family and the debts he incurred,’‘ he added.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran, who accompanied Mr. Satheesan, said Rajeev became a martyr made by the State government. “This government, which does not consider even the basic needs of its people, is going to implement the crore SilverLine project,’‘ he said.
Besides the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also accused the government of pursuing a regressive farm policy. “The allocations made by the Union government to the State towards development of agriculture is not reaching the farmers. The State government is also not ready to implement assistance schemes such as Fazal Bhima Yojana,’‘ said Kummanam Rajashekharan, a member of the BJP national executive committee.
A verification with the Agriculture department, meanwhile, suggested that the deceased farmer had harvested paddy from two out of the his total 3.3 acres of land at Niranom. The crop in remaining area, however, was destroyed by the summer rain.
The department rebuffed reports of denying any benefit that had been due to the deceased farmer. “He had already received financial assistance worth ₹19,960 under the schemes for Sustainable Paddy Cultivation Promotion and the People’s Planning. In fact, we have cleared all the payments that were due to him till March this year,’’ said Sheela A.D., principal agricultural officer, Pathanamthitta.
As to the allegation on the insufficient compensation paid for the crop loss last year, the official said the compensation had been assessed for a total area of 10.81 hectares, as applied by a farmer collective, including Rajeev.
“As demanded by them, the collective was awarded the maximum compensation as stipulated by the crop insurance scheme. The compensation of ₹3.51 lakh, however, was pooled among 74 farmers and of this, Rajeev received just ₹4,200,’‘ the official said.
