In a chilling reflection of the mounting crisis facing Odisha’s paddy farmers, a distressed cultivator from Baragada district has formally applied for permission to end his life, citing the government’s failure to resolve the long-pending paddy procurement problem.
Gopalakrushna Sahu, son of Bharat Chandra Sahu from Melachhamunda village under Padampur subdivision, submitted the application on Tuesday to the District Collector, addressed to the President of India.
In his emotional plea, Sahu stated that he has been unable to obtain a token to sell his harvested paddy. As a result, he cannot arrange medical treatment for his ailing mother or repay loans, pushing his family into severe financial hardship.
“Provide the token and make immediate arrangements to purchase my paddy. Otherwise, grant permission for my euthanasia,” Sahu wrote in the application, underlining the unbearable pressure on his family’s livelihood.
This is the second such case in Baragada district where a farmer has resorted to applying for euthanasia over the same paddy-selling crisis. The development has sent shockwaves across the farming community, with many cultivators expressing deep anxiety as the new Kharif season has already begun while the previous season’s produce remains unsold.
Prominent farmer leader Ramesh Mohapatra strongly criticised the situation, asserting that farmers in Baragada continue to face harassment and neglect whether under BJD or BJP governments. He pointed out that despite the start of Kharif operations, hundreds of farmers are still waiting for tokens, leading to widespread anger and desperation.
The incident once again exposes the persistent bottlenecks in Odisha’s paddy procurement system — delayed token distribution, slow purchases, and lack of timely relief for farmers burdened by debts and family responsibilities. Sahu’s plea has now become a symbol of the extreme distress gripping sections of the farming community in Bargarh.
Authorities are yet to respond to the application. The case has intensified calls for immediate intervention to streamline paddy procurement and prevent further tragedies.
