Bhubaneswar, May 30: Plight of the state's farmers, many of whom have committed suicide in the past one year amid controversial circumstances, is in focus - thanks to Bargarh-based journalist, Alok Tripathy's film, Jaluchhe Puta (the belly is burning), which is being screened in the open at west Odisha villages.
Tripathy, who had written and directed the film made on a shoe-string budget, said he decided to highlight the condition of farmers as he was saddened by the politics over the issue. "Everyone is doing politics over the issue of farmer suicides. Both Prime minister Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik have visited Bargarh in west Odisha. But, they failed to address the issues concerning farmers. The government's nonchalant attitude made me highlight the farmer's cause in this way."
Local artists of western Odisha supported Tripathy by acting in his film without remuneration. "They themselves paid even for their travel and food," said Tripathy, who spent around Rs 30,000 on the film.
The one-hour-ten-minute documentary revolves around the story of three farmers of west Odisha, who threaten to commit suicide after their crops fail. Before taking the extreme step they approach the local sarpanch seeking help under various government schemes. They even seek caste certificates from the sarpanch to apply for bank loans. But, the sarpanch betrays them. Later, they write a letter to the district collector threatening to end their lives. The collector was ailing when he received the letter. Instead of addressing the problem, he asks the intelligence wing to stop the farmers from taking the extreme step by bribing them. While the intelligence wing officials try to locate the farmers, they hide in a pond fearing police action. They are rescued by the intelligence officials, who offer them money if they agree to give up their suicide plan.
The three farmers, who have been without food for days together, go to a star hotel and have a lavish lunch. But, the hotel owner suspecting them to be thieves informs local police. The local police thrash them and recover the money from them. Later, they are set free on the intervention of the district administration. But, freedom does not end their problems and they continue to lead an accursed life.
Tripathy, a journalist working in a vernacular paper, is now moving from village to village showing the film to the people in the open using a projector. "We are not charging a single pie to show the film to the people. We have already shown it at five villages and received request from 60 villages for screening. We aim to sensitise people and the administration about the farmers' problems," he said.
Interestingly, the number of alleged farmer suicide cases in the state has reached 200. However, the state government had, in its report, claimed that not a single farmer committed suicide because of crop loss. It said deaths were due to family feud and mental problems.
