5000 farmers from western Odisha, marched to the main square, Gangadhar Mandap, of Sambalpur city in agitation as Odisha government refuses to link farmer suicides to crop failure. The state inquiry reports state that the farmer deaths are mainly due to family disputes and excessive liquor consumption and not due to crop failure. Farmers and survivors of the perished farmers came out in the rally to protest against the government, who has ignored the failing situation of Odisha's marginalised citizens and has made irresponsible statements. Santoshi Mirdha, the widow of farmer Sanatana Mirdha addressed the gathering,
"Did all farmers die due to consuming alcohol? No one at the government offices wants to hear me out. They just make us run around in circles. I've lost 2 acres of crops this year, but the revenue inspector asking for proofs."
This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent Dasharathi Behra.
Community Correspondents come from marginalised communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ they give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a
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