Farmer suicides: Panel meets victims’ families

BARNALA: A team constituted by the Vidhan Sabha visited the families of farmers and farm labourers, who committed suicide, to assess the causes of the extreme step, and current financial position of the families.

The committee, led by chairman Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and comprising MLAs Nathu Ram, Nazar Singh Manshahia, Kuljit Singh Nagra and Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, visited Dhanaula, Sanghera, Wazidke Kalan, Cheema, Shaina and Daraka Patti villages in Barnala district, and interacted with the families of around 20 victims.

“The team assured the farmers, agricultural labourers and their families that the state government was working towards helping them and suicide was not an answer. We will submit a comprehensive report to the Vidhan Sabha in three months with our suggestions and recommendations to curtail suicide by farmers,” committee member Harvinder Singh Chandumajra said.

Nazar Singh said in their bid to ensure recovery, banks issued notices to the money borrowers irrespective of their financial condition. They need to devise some measures to overcome this, he added.

Harwinder Singh, son of a suicide victim, said, “My father is gone, but the debt’s sword is still hanging over my head. The committee members just made notes, and left without any assurance of debt waiver.” Jasvir Kaur, wife of another victim, said, “My husband died, leaving a debt of ₹15 lakh. Committee members have taken down our details. Now, I’ll wait and see if the state government helps me.”