Erode ryot ends life over crop failure

The deceased has been identified as P Ramalingam (56) of Karattupalayam village near Kodumui in Erode district. It is said that he took the extreme step on Sunday night and was rushed to the government hospital by his family members in the locality. In a few hours, he was shifted to Erode District Headquarters Hospital, where he failed to respond to the treatment and died on Monday. Kodumudi police said that he had sown turmeric on a three-acre land and crops wilted due to inadequate water for irrigation. Inquiry revealed that he was upset over the crop failure for the last few days. Meanwhile, more than 200 farmers picketed the government hospital on Monday demanding compensation for the crop failure and the loss of a farmer’s life. After a few rounds of talks and assurance by police officials of necessary steps to address their demands, the agitators left the place and the family received the Ramalingam’s body. Secretary of Kalingarayan Mathagu Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam S Selvakumar said that farmers in the district planted turmeric, banana and sugarcane on more than 10,000 acre after the district administration ordered the PWD officials to release water from the dam for 60 days. “We had invested a lot in raising the crops. But the water supply was stopped abruptly in 28 days, leading to wilting of crops,” he said. “With the monsoon also failing, farmers are left with no other option but to watch their crops die,” he lamented and appealed to the government to take necessary steps to prevent deaths of farmers.