639 MAHA FARMER SUICIDES IN MAR-MAY
Due to crop failure, debts and inability to repay bank loans
A total of 639 farmers committed suicide between March 1 and May 31 this year, due to crop failure, debts and inability to repay bank loans, the Maharashtra government has conceded. Dhananjay Munde, Leader of Opposition, alleged that all government schemes related to farmers failed and hence the number of farmer suicides have increased in the last four years. This information was given by State Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil in a written reply in the Legislative Council on Friday to a question posed by Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde and NCP members Hemant Takle, Sunil Tatkare, Amarsinh Pandit, Kiran Pawaskar, Narendra Patil, among others.
The Opposition members had sought to know the number of farmers that had committed suicide in the last three monthsand details of compensation provided to the family of the deceased. They also asked about steps taken by the government to help the families of deceased farmers. In the written reply, Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil said 639 farmers had committed suicide between March 1 and May 31, 2018.
Patil said that of these 639 farmers, 188 were declared eligible for compensation as per government schemes, based on the government's criteria of crop failure, debts and their failure to repay loans. Out of 188, families of 174 farmers have received compensation, Patil said and added that 122 cases were declared ineligible for compensation, while 329 cases are pending due to investigation. Speaking to media-persons, Dhananjay Munde said that all government schemes, be it loan waiver, giving compensation to farmers for crop losses, crop loans and providing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural goods of farmers have failed, thereby increasing the spate of suicides. Munde claimed that in the last four years, 13,000 and in the last one year, 1,500 farmers have committed suicide. Meanwhile, replying to another query, Patil stated that according to parameters of drought declared by the state government on October 7, 2018, the government had on April 25, 2018 declared medium drought in 8 talukas of Yavatmal, Washim and Jalgaon districts. “Accordingly, compensation and other help was provided to affected farmers,” Patil stated. He stated that the Centre had on May 29 this year made amendments in rules for declaration of drought-hit areas based on suggestions provided by states. Accordingly, the state Revenue and Forest departments made the changes on June 28.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while replying to a Calling Attention motion raised by NCP MLC Vidya Chavan, asserted that appropriate action will be taken to recover mortgaged land of farmers from lenders. Also taking part in the debate, Cooperative Minister Subhash Deshmukh said availing benefits under the government's' lender free farmer' scheme by creating list of fake names based on fake documents and fake signatures was a crime andthat strict action would be taken if farmers and the government are deceived. “Efforts will be made to get back the mortgaged jewellery to a victim farmer from lenders,” he said.