Suicide is the only option left if Govt doesn’t act: Tribal Farmers

08 Oct 2018 08:27 PM

The 21 tribal farmers of Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona fear that committing suicide is the only option for them.



 Each one of them has been duped of not less than 50 to 60 lakh rupees in the orchid scandal. They never grew a single orchid flower. But lost the cash crops that they were growing. The loan amount siphoned off by the agent.

Now they have been told to pay this huge amount of loan.

 Our Canacona reporter Devidas Gaonkar personally visited these farmers in Gaodongrim and Khotigao.

On this land, they were growing chillies, bananas, pineapple, cashew, paddy etc. They made this land available to construct polyhouses for orchid plantation, when then agriculture minister Ramesh Tawadkar assured them income of minimum one lakh rupees per month.

They signed on the loan forms, but the whole amount of 65 lakh rupees was paid directly to the agent Devidas Gaonkar by Ratnakar Bank. And these poly houses are lying in this condition, without growing a single orchid. 

Reporter: Devidas Gaonkar | Desk: Bureau



What do you feel

Click here