Barkamala Mallavva of Elkal village in Medak district of Telangana is about 50 years and has an acre of land. Her husband, Bhikshapati, committed suicide by hanging himself four years ago. Her son, Swamy, also committed suicide two years ago by consuming pesticide. The family is now left with a debt of Rs. 2 lakh incurred for drilling borewells and unviable farming.
Brothers Pitla Ravi and Narsimhulu committed suicide by consuming pesticide within a span of three years. Their mother, Sushila, is now saddled with the responsibility of repaying the debt. She has just one acre in her possession.
Similarly, burdened with a debt of Rs. 2 lakh, Sangarati Narsaiah and his son Swamy committed suicide. Their family members are now left with only half-an-acre to eke out their living.
As many as 28 farmers in the village, which has a population of 3,000, have committed suicide in the last five years. Every alternate month, a farmer commits suicide in Elkal. The reason is the same — unviable farming and inability to repay loans which were obtained at high interest rates. Almost all of them took loans from moneylenders whose interest rates range from 2 to 3 per cent a month, or 24 to 36 per cent a year.
“My husband T. Balanarsu committed suicide about four years ago and at present I am left with a debt of Rs. 3 lakh. I sold about an acre and cleared a debt of about Rs. 50,000. I performed the marriage of my two daughters and each marriage cost me about Rs. 1 lakh. I am earning about Rs. 5,000 by doing various jobs and repaying around Rs. 3,000 a month towards interest. I do not know whether I can repay the principal in my life time,” says Ms. Bharatamma.
Same is the case with Torri Venkatamma and her son Durga Prasad after the suicide of family head Torri Venkataiah, who incurred a debt of about Rs. 2 lakh.
“A major portion of our earnings is going towards payment of interest for loans. How long we can we go on like this?” asks Durga Prasad, who dropped out of Class IX following his father’s death.
Living on hope Ironically, except three or four families, others have not registered any complaint with the police. Consequently, no post-mortem was conducted on the bodies. “They were already in deep trouble due to the death of a family member. The last rites itself are a costly affair. If you opt for post-mortem, it will cost an additional Rs. 5,000,” says Pitla Venkataiah a farmer, and husband of sarpanch Krishnaveni.
Some of the families did not even collect death certificates from the panchayat office. As many suicides were not registered, the kith and kin of the deceased may not get any compensation announced by the State government.
But still, they have not lost hope. They believe that some one will come to their rescue.
