Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Shocking revelation

This refers to two reports — “17,060 farm suicides in one year” on the front page and “Heritage on wheels” on the last page (Jan. 31). While the news of three of our trains making it to ‘World’s Top 25 Trains’ and the photograph of a flower-laden train with its well-dressed crew and tastefully done bar were exciting, the revelation that Maharashtra recorded the worst farm suicide figure in any year in any State was shocking. Now I know why an Indian farmer dreams of being born as an American cow in his next birth. I don’t blame the farmer for having such dreams.

Reeta Narzary,

Kochi

It is extremely disturbing that thousands of peasants take their lives in a country that continues to produce more billionaires. Agriculture is the lifeline of a majority of Indians. Yet the agrarian sector has been in tatters since the advent of globalisation. Liberalisation has ushered in cheaper produce through import, subsidies have been cut, fuel and fodder costs raised, and the concept of MSP has been given a slow farewell. Squeezed from all sides, the farmer takes his life. The UPA government has failed miserably to address the agrarian crisis. The government should do more than making announcements and evolving packages to address the serious situation.

N. Sekar,

Salem

The rising number of suicides among the poor and hapless farmers is a national shame. The distress in Indian agriculture in recent years is the direct result of the Union government’s policies. Official callousness and refusal to acknowledge responsibility are worsening the situation. The government has refused to waive loans, provide genuine support prices, and actively promotes Bt varieties of seeds. The increase in the number of suicides only reflects the failure of its relief packages.

T. Marx,

Karaikal

It is ironical that farmers who produce food for millions have no incentive to continue living. In spite of the high economic growth rate that the nation has achieved over the past two years, there is no decline in the number of farm suicides. Obviously, governments haven’t done enough to bring the numbers down.

Vasanth Natarajan,

Chennai

The report on farm suicides is extremely shocking and horrifying in the face of the “impressive” GDP growth rate and zooming market Sensex. However, the sudden upsurge of suicidal tendency in some parts of the country among a certain section of society cannot be solely attributed to economic condition as we know that people have lived and many continue to live in other parts of the country in extreme poverty and harsh conditions without resorting to the extreme step of ending their lives. Social scientists must explore what changes have taken place in the value structure of our society that are generating social impulses for suicide among farmers in a region. An economic package alone will not suffice to keep the fabric of agrarian society, which is falling apart, together.

Madhav Govind,

New Delhi

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