At least ten farmers faced with losses due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Maharashtra have committed suicide in the past week. According to State administrative officials, eight suicides have been reported in the Marathwada region, which is the worst affected in the State. Two more suicides were reported in Nagpur.
Even as farmers are driven to taking drastic steps, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the government could not waive farm loans. Individual banks would decide if they can write off loans of farmers who have faced losses, he said in Pune on Tuesday. “The government cannot take the decision to offer farm loan waivers, banks need to do that. That will depend upon the deposits with the banks,” he stated.
According to the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Aurangabad, there were three farmer suicides in Osmanabad and Nanded districts and one each in Beed and Latur districts. Two farmers also took their lives in the Nagpur region. Farmers’ organisation Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti has stated that there were six more suicides in the Amravati region, a claim officials have denied.
Even as the debate on waiving farm loans rages — the Opposition demands farm loans and electricity bills be waived — the question of private money lenders remains. Two farmers who committed suicide in Osmanabad had borrowed from sahukar s (financiers), and lost all hope with their crops, a farmer from Osmanabad said. “Two of those who took their lives in the district had taken Rs.1-lakh loan from a private moneylender. Even if the government excuses their loan, the sahukar won’t. Hence, they decided to end their lives,” Ramdas Navale, an affected farmer said.
No relief has been declared by the government even as more than 15 lakh hectares of farmland was destroyed by the rains and hailstorms in 28 out of Maharashtra’s 35 districts. Any announcement on aid will have to have the approval of the Election Commission of India, due to the application of the Model Code of Conduct. A Central team toured the affected region last week, and a decision on aid is expected on Wednesday.
“We will consult the Election Commission and disburse help accordingly. If people’s representatives are not allowed to be involved in the process, the State administration will take charge,” Mr. Pawar said.
