The widows of the five farmers in Laxmanchanda and Mamdal mandal in Adilabad district have become the centre of attention, ahead of the May 15 visit of All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi. All of them have the same sorry tale to tell that ends with the debilitating loss of the sole bread winner in the family – their husbands.
Failure of crop last kharif season had broken their resolve as it had come in quick succession after the dismal seasons of 2012 and 2013. That loss was the triggering factor for all the five farmers to take the extreme step as they had incurred unpayable debts.
Velma Rajeshwar-Koratikal
Aged 51 years, he committed suicide on May 2, 2015 having incurred a debt of nearly Rs. 12 lakh on account of purchase of 3 acres of land and funding his two sons to go to the Gulf in search of employment. “One has returned empty handed while the other is still there,” disclosed Gangavva, the widow.
“My husband had purchased the land five years back hoping to repay the debt in a year or two. We suffered crop loss all the five years,” she stated.
Bondla Linganna-Laxmanchanda
Aged 37 years, he committed suicide on October 29, 2014, having incurred a debt of about Rs. 3 lakh. “We had cultivated soyabean and maize in the one acre we owned and the 6 acres taken on lease last kharif but the crop failed,” recalled Bondla Vasantha, Linganna’s widow.
Soodi Lasmanna-Laxmanchanda
Aged about 40 years, he committed suicide on October 15, 2014 perturbed over the failure of his soyabean and maize crop. “We had sold our house and two acres of land managing only to repay about Rs. 3.5 lakh of the Rs. 5 lakh debt,” stated Posani, Lasmanna’s widow.
Shatam Gangadhar-Rachapur
Aged about 35 years, he committed suicide on July 19, 2014 after incurring a debt of Rs. 5 lakh. “We had cultivated soyabean and maize in three acres of land besides three more taken on lease,” revealed Gangadhar’s wife, Laxmi.
“Our claim on my husband’s death, falling under the category of farmer suicide, was rejected by authorities. I could not even get the compensation of Rs. 1.5 lakh given by the government,” she added.
Paspula Laxman-Vadial
Aged about 52 years, he committed suicide on October 13, 2014 with a debt of Rs. 4 lakh tormenting him. “We too had cultivated soyabean and maize which failed last kharif,” said Godavari, Laxman’s widow.
