93 farmers committed suicide in 45 days in Marathwada region
AURANGABAD: Forty-five days, 93 suicides. 2015 has started quite ominously for farmers in the perennially parched Marathwada region and activists blamed the fickle weather and the delay in release of government compensation for this.The divisional commissionerate has reported as many as 93 farmers' suicides in Marathwada in the last 45 days since January 1. Last year, the region had reported 569 farmers' suicides as against 207 in 2013.
A committee of each taluka comprising the tehsildar, police officer, taluka agriculture officer, sarpanch and a panchayat samiti member probes a suicide case to confirm if the death was due to debt burden. A farmer committing suicide is eligible for compensation only if he possesses land and is debt-ridden. Moreover, he should have taken loan only from either nationalized or co-operative banks and registered money-lenders. There has to be follow up from the banks concerned for the repayment of the loan.
Divisional commissioner Umakant Dangat said, "Farmer suicide is one of the biggest challenges before the administration. Crop failure and debts are considered the main reasons for farmers' suicide. This is common in an area where the single crop pattern is in practice. Ensuring water security for the farmers via water management is the solution to the problem in a region like Marathwada."
File photo of the family of Gosavi Pawar, a debt-ridden peasant from Kolezhari hamlet in Yavatmal
who committed suicide, assemble in the
courtyard.
He added that the farmers should be introduced to some sustainable means of farming system. Agriculture here needs to be supplement by allied activities like vegetable production, diary, so that farmer suicides are brought down to a great extent.
Of the total farmers' suicides committed this year in the region, 26 have been reported from Beed, closely followed by Nanded (20) and Osmanabad (18). Parbhani has reported one farmer suicide, while Jalna, Hingoli, Aurangabad and Latur districts have reported three, four, nine and 12 farmer suicides, respectively.
"The delay in distribution of compensation is the biggest reason for the farmers to take the extreme step. Besides, the vicious cycle of crop loan in combination with erratic monsoon in the region leaves the farmers with no option but to take the extreme step," said farmer activist Jayajirao Suryawanshi.
Of the 93 deaths, the administration has 26 cases pending for inquiry because of which compensation has not been granted. District collector Naval Kishor Ram said, "Once a farmer suicide is reported, we send it to the block level committee including tehsildar, police inspector and agriculture officer. There are two levels of inquiries conducted and they ideally take at least one month. We ensure there is no delay in the release of compensation."
He added that the farmers should be introduced to some sustainable means of farming system. Agriculture here needs to be supplement by allied activities like vegetable production, diary, so that farmer suicides are brought down to a great extent.
Of the total farmers' suicides committed this year in the region, 26 have been reported from Beed, closely followed by Nanded (20) and Osmanabad (18). Parbhani has reported one farmer suicide, while Jalna, Hingoli, Aurangabad and Latur districts have reported three, four, nine and 12 farmer suicides, respectively.
"The delay in distribution of compensation is the biggest reason for the farmers to take the extreme step. Besides, the vicious cycle of crop loan in combination with erratic monsoon in the region leaves the farmers with no option but to take the extreme step," said farmer activist Jayajirao Suryawanshi.
Of the 93 deaths, the administration has 26 cases pending for inquiry because of which compensation has not been granted. District collector Naval Kishor Ram said, "Once a farmer suicide is reported, we send it to the block level committee including tehsildar, police inspector and agriculture officer. There are two levels of inquiries conducted and they ideally take at least one month. We ensure there is no delay in the release of compensation."
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