MUMBAI: Underlining the extent of the agrarian distress in Maharashtra, the state government has admitted that 3,228 farmers have committed suicide in 2015.
In a written reply to a question by Ashish Shelar (BJP- Bandra West) and others in the state legislative assembly on Thursday, relief and rehabilitation minister Eknath Khadse said that from January 2015 to December 2015, 3,228 farmers committed suicide. Of these, 1,841 were found fit for compensation, 903 were found ineligible and 484 cases were being inquired into.
Meanwhile, in a written reply to a question by Rahul Jagtap (NCP-Shrigonda) and others, Khadse said that in the Aurangabad revenue division, which comprises drought-affected Marathwada, 89 farmers had committed suicide between January 1 and 31 this year. Khadse added that in Latur and Nanded districts, three farmers had committed suicide due to recurrent crop failures and indebtedness.

The state government was also compensating the families of those agriculturists who had committed suicide.Moreover, Khadse, in a written reply to a question by Gulabrao Patil (Shiv Sena-Jalgaon Rural), admitted that between January 2015 and February 2016, 132 farmers committed suicide in Ahmednagar district.