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Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Tohana (Fatehabad), April 27
A debt-ridden famer reportedly ended his life yesterday as he was upset over damage to his crop caused by rain and hailstorm. To make matters worse, revenue officials had refused to include his field for a special girdawari.
The deceased, Suraj Bhan (45), was from Chander Kalan village in the Tohana Assembly segment. He had gone to his field on Sunday morning, but did not return. Later, his body was found hanging from a tree in his field.
Bhan married with three children owed Rs5 lakh to a bank and a like amount to an arhtiya.
His elder brother Karambir Singh said Bhan owned 4.5 acres and had taken another 4.5 acres on lease for an annual rent of Rs45,000 per acre.
He said Bhan suffered 75 per cent damage to his crop and tried hard to get his field included in the special girdawari.
Tohana tehsildar Hari Om Bishnoi, however, claimed crop loss was less than 25 per cent and, hence, Bhan did not qualify for compensation.
“Why will the Revenue Department leave out Bhan from awarding compensation when it included the names of farmers whose crops suffered more than 25 per cent damage? Bishnoi said.
Karambir said that on Saturday, he had harvested his crops on 4.5 acres and was to harvest the rest on Sunday. “The yield is not more than 6 quintals per acre. In normal times, the yield has been 22 to 24 quintals,” he said.
“He (Bhan) seemed distressed when I called him yesterday, because even kharif crop of rice had not fetched remunerative price. I told him not to lose heart, as things may improve next season. I never thought he would take such the extreme step,” the deceased’s brother said.
Bhiwani: One more farmer reportedly committed suicide yesterday over poor wheat yield following unseasonal rain and hailstorm.
The deceased, Ramesh Kumar (47), was from Dhani Biran village in Tosham block of the district.
Ran Singh, a relative of the deceased, said Ramesh was upset over low yield of wheat sown on 4 acres. He owed Rs 1.5 lakh to a bank and was concerned as to how he would he repay the loan in view of the low harvest. A majority of his field was hit by rain and hailstorm.
He said Ramesh had left home yesterday to sell off wheat at Tosham mandi and consumed poison on the way. He was taken to hospital, but was declared dead.
On April 23, Surender Singh (52) of the district’s Paju village jumped into a well as he suffered losses on account of crop damage.
Another farmer, Ravinder Kumar (42), died of heart attack following low yield yesterday. He was a native of Gudana village in the district.
He had cultivated wheat on 6 acres taken on lease at Dharawarnwas village in Tosham block.
His family told the police low yield dashed his hope of paying off his debts. He was taken to hospital, but could not be saved.
Low yield: Farmer dies in Karnal village
Karnal: A farmer reportedly died of shock following low production from his field on Monday. The deceased, Tejpal (45), was from Guniyana village of the district's Nissing block. Tejpal was harvesting his field in the morning when he fell unconscious on observing less production, and black and shrunk grains. The family said Tejpal complained of uneasiness and chest pain, following which he was taken to a private hospital here. Billu Rana, an acquaintance of the deceased, said Tejpal was under debt of Rs 6 lakh. He had cultivated around 12 acres, including 6 acres on lease. Unseasonal rain dashed his hope of a good produce and pay off his debts, Rana said, adding girdawari did not cover Tejpal's field. The family refused the post-mortem examination of the body and alleged that no one was here to listen to the plight of the farmers. — TNS
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