257 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra this year
NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government has reported 257 suicides by farmers in the State between January and March this year resulting from the agrarian crisis.
“The government of Maharashtra has reported that 257 farmers have committed suicide in the State due to agrarian reasons during the period January to March 2015,” Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundaria said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
As many as 114 cases of suicides were reported from the Aurangabad region, followed by Amrawati (102), Nagpur (30) and Nashik (nine) the data showed.
Replying to a separate query, Mr. Kundaria said that Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan governments had reported three, five and one cases of farmer suicides respectively, due to the recent untimely
rains and hailstorm.
He said agriculture being a State subject, States take necessary measures for development of the farm sector with the Central government supplementing the efforts through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support.
“The Centre has taken several steps to revitalise the agriculture sector and improve the condition of farming community on sustainable basis by increasing investment, improving farm practices, rural infrastructure and delivery of credit, technology and other inputs, extension and marketing among others,’’ he said.
Compensation
In a reply to a question he said the amount of compensation to a farmer who commits suicide was decided by the State government. The Maharashtra government has reported that it provides a compensation of Rs.1 lakh to the family of those farmers who end their lives due to crop failure, debt and inability to repay loan.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) member Ritabrata Banerjee disputed the government’s reply on his question regarding suicide by potato growers in West Bengal. He said since March 21 potato growers had committed suicide in the State due to the steep fall in the price of potato. This had led the state to give incentives to growers such as market intervention and transport and export subsidy.
