A report has revealed that as many as 557 farmers have died by suicide between January and June 2024 in Amarvati administrative division of Maharashtra. The five districts the division encompasses are Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal.
The report disclosed that, the highest number of deaths by suicide was recorded in Amravati district (170), followed by Yavatmal (150), Buldhana (111), Akola (92) and Washim (34).
The main reason cited for these suicide cases are crop failures, inadequate rainfall, overwhelming debts, and the lack of timely farm loans. The report highlighted that the government has extended assistance to the families of 53 deceased farmers. However, there are still 284 cases pending for investigation.
Expressing concern over the figures mentioned in the report, Congress leader Balwant Wankhade, who represents the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, said Maharashtra is one of the states that records highest number of farmer suicides and Amravati tops the state on this count.
“Crop losses, lack of adequate rainfall, existing debt burden, and the absence of timely farm loans are driving farmers to take such extreme steps,” Wankhade said to PTI news agency. “The government must deliver on its assurances to support our farmers.”
Reacting to the report Chairperson of state government’s Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavlambi Mission, Nilesh Helonde-Patil, said the suicide of farmers was a serious issue and efforts were on to find a solution to stop such deaths.
“The local administration is reaching out to farmers at the gram panchayat level with various government schemes to help them increase their income, and also in the education of their children and the medical cost of the family members. The government is standing behind them. The Shetkari Swavlambi Mission is also facilitating easy communication between farmers and insurance companies,” he said.
