Why a Farmer commits Suicide? Analysis…

I’m going to write a series of posts to discuss farmer suicide reasons to length and breadth. Alongside would try to find some solutions to this problem.

I came across various assumptions, facts and hypocrisy about the causes of farmer suicides. It is really very sad on the part of Bharat Sarkar (GOI) and state governments that they have not yet dug into the roots of the issue. They are busy creating a feel good environment by declaring loan waiver, subsidies and some immediate help. The government will go to the victims house will declare Rs. 100000/200000 or whatever moderate amount enough for a year or two. If that is the case then why not to give such money in advance than later?

Basically we, as responsible citizens, need to question the government and representatives about the suicide reports and reasons of suicide. If a single farmer suicide in NY, USA makes whole country upset and does a primary study with suggestions, then why we, Bharatiya, don’t consider this? Aren’t we aware of that more than 200000 (2 lakh) farmers have committed suicide since 1995?

There were more than 16400 suicides in the year of 2008 amidst all loan waivers and subsidies. And after the bad 2009 the number is supposedly uncontrolled.

(Being a farmer) Here is what I think about the reasons of farmer suicides:

1. Consistently failing crops
   1. Costly and less productive seeds (BT/GM?)
   2. Water scarcity
   3. (forced) Chemical fertilizers usage
   4. Electricity problems
2. Large cost of seeding and cultivation
3. Panchnama (Inspection) by government officials after natural/man made calamity
4. Transport problems
5. Storage and Preservation problems.
6. Fluctuating rates (at the hands of dalals/agents) of farm produce
7. Insufficient food processing facilities
8. Politics of agriculture
9. GM/BT effect
10. Missing guidance and proper planning (???)
11. Commercialization (???)

I’ll try to elaborate each and every point with evidences and possible statistics. Will also try to get some testimonials of farmers in following few posts.

Please send me your comments, suggestions and corrections…

धन्यवाद!

जय भारत!

SC worried about Farmer’s Suicides due to Starvation, Poverty & Indebtedness; But GOI isn’t

Expressing serious concern over the increasing incidents of suicide by farmers due to starvation, poverty and other reasons, the Supreme Court issued directive to Centre to come out with “mirco-level steps to prevent such suicides”. This directive came in on Monday, 18 Jan, 2010.

Take micro-level steps to prevent farmers’ suicides: SC

What a tragedy, court needs to direct, so called socialists and social workers, about the farmers problems…

The Chief Justice told the counsel the problem differed from area to area.  “It needs to be addressed at the local level. Farmers often go to money-lenders as they give money without security. You tell us what the schemes are or packages you have for farmers, whether these schemes reach the farmers, and how far it has reduced indebtedness. You should also collect the latest data,” he said….

Why don’t these politicians, who go to farmers and labors to seek their votes, understand the pain farmers suffer? Or is it that they don’t want to acknowledge? The local representatives are so engraved in selfish and corrupt acts that they turned diff and dumb towards the problems of common man. These are the same selfish, greedy creatures who become angels and god/goddess in election days.

The CJI also asked the petitioner to come out with suggestions so that the court could give some positive directions to the government on the next date of hearing after six weeks….

Why is government elected?  Is this what for people elected government? I suspect the government has re-elected itself (May be EVM scam). Because as I see this government has failed in each aspect.

No security, No law, No food, Farmers & students are committing suicide. Textile mill workers have been fighting for 28 years to get their rights but no success. Vidharbha(farmer suicide epicenter) economic/developmental backlog of 1994 is still not completed (expected to complete by 2012). No developments on food, water crisis.

“All is well, because we don’t care”

Are they, elected representatives, unable to handle the issues? If that is the case then they have no right to stay in power.  Please, pave way to able and efficient leadership..

No channel, newspaper talk about such issues. (Who owns these media houses?)

No expert is needed to answer these questions. It is just that we have week opposition party and sleeping citizens..

जय भारत!

18% Vidarbha farmer suicides in 2009 genuine, says Bharat Sarkar

18% Vidarbha farmer suicides in 2009 genuine, says govt – Times Of India Pune

TNN 12 September 2009, 05:30am IST

AMRAVATI: The spate of farmer suicides is continuing in Vidarbha region. Hundreds of farmers have ended their lives this year but few have proved to be eligible to be counted as genuine cases, resulting in their kin not getting compensation or other benefits from the government. Activists claimed that the officials are merely following the orders from the chief minister’s office to keep farmer suicide numbers as low as possible. Though the situation has improved after implementation of the packages, the numbers are still worrying. In year 2009, till July 31, around 466 farmers in six suicide prone districts committed suicide. But only 86 – roughly 18.45% – were considered eligible for compensation which government offers to the next of kin. Ninety-six cases are under probe and 284 cases have been rejected by government. From 2001 to July 31 this year, 5,503 farmers committed suicide out of which 2,030 cases were found eligible for benefits of the government while 3,377 were non eligible and 96 are under investigation. Sources from the commissionerate stated that a compensation of Rs 1 lakh is provided to eligible beneficiaries of which Rs 30,000 paid in cash while Rs 70,000 deposited in the account of the farmer. Only those cases in which farmers committed suicide due to in indebtedness, excess follow up by a bank or moneylender for repayments and low yield are considered to be eligible for the compensation. The district collector heads a committee which comprises officials of the departments concerned and NGO representatives to review farmer suicide cases. Talathi of the village does the enquiry of the farmers on various grounds and then eligibility of the beneficiary is decided. Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, while talking to TOI, claimed that Chief Minister Ashok Chavan himself had told officials not to show more number of beneficiaries on record and officials are following the orders. Tiwari also said that the administration has put forth the flimsy reasons to reject the case. “The administration is insensitive towards the problems of the farmers,” he said. The government issued a GR regarding non-eligible beneficiaries in February this year in which it was stated that the benefits of the Antyodaya Scheme should be extended to the widows of farmers who were not considered eligible for ex-gratia. “Except Yavatmal district, this scheme is not being implemented properly,” said Tiwari.

What do you think? Where are we going?

We have price rise on one side and farmer suicide on other, who is being benefited?

जय हिंद!