Though the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has sanctioned about Rs. 1,135 crore as compensation and relief money to the farmers whose crops were damaged in the unseasonal rain last month, the phenomenon of suicide/attempted suicide has not stopped. On Wednesday alone two farmers committed suicide in the western parts of the State.
Anandpal, a 55-year-old farmer from Alem town of Shamli district hanged himself from the ceiling of his residence. According to the Shamli police he was depressed as he had received a bank notice to repay Rs. 1.27 lakh but was unable to do so after his wheat crop was damaged in the unseasonal rain and hailstorm.
Assessment of crop damage has been almost done in all the 56 affected districts and revenue officials are busy distributing compensation and relief money.
In Bareilly, the administration has distributed Rs. 24 crore as compensation but still one case of suicide and another of attempted suicide was reported on Wednesday. While one farmer succumbed to burns at the district hospital, another farmer, who tried to kill himself by jumping in front of a train, was saved by his family members.
Raju (35) had set himself ablaze on April 24 and sustained more than 90 per cent burns. “After the crops were destroyed, he knew that he was not going to get any more money from anywhere. This drove him to take the extreme step,” his wife Vinita told the media.
According to Manoj Kumar, ADM (Finance and Revenue), compensation for crop damage was being distributed without delay among the affected and identified farmers. “We have received another instalment of Rs. 10 crore which will be distributed without any delay,” he said.
Local farmers told The Hindu that the amount of compensation was not sufficient for the farmers to repay the loan and eke out a living. The district administration had initially asked for Rs. 177crore as compensation money to distribute among 3.24 lakh farmers. As of now, the local administration has received only a total of Rs 34. crore for relief.
