Three farmers committed suicide every day from February to May this year, the Maharashtra Legislative Council was informed on Tuesday.
State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam informed the council that 559 farmers had ended their lives in these four months.
“Out of the total suicides, 85 were due to natural calamities such as hailstorms,” Mr. Kadam said. The families of these farmers were provided a total financial aid of Rs. 11 crore.
The State has also suffered >crop losses estimated at Rs. 2,810 crore in the natural calamities.
Out of the total suicides, the government had provided financial aid to 204 of the 232 eligible families. As many as 180 families were found ineligible.
“The reasons for those suicides are different. Some were due to family issues or personal problems. They can’t be given financial assistance,” said a government official. The government is still investigating whether the rest of the families are eligible for government assistance or not.
The Minister agreed to set up a committee to inquire into the large number of farmer suicides.
