By Shuriah Niazi
BHOPAL, India
Madanlal Rajput, a 55-year-old farmer, committed suicide on Tuesday.
The farmer, who had five acres of land in his home district of Bhopal, in central Indian state Madhya Pradesh, was distraught after seeing his crops destroyed by hailstorms and heavy rains that recently hit parts of central India.
“He was under the debt of more than 700,000 rupees ($11,600). Unseasonal rains and hailstorms had completely destroyed his crops on five acres of land which he owed. Left with no other option, he decided to end his life,” said Madanlal's brother-in-law Rakesh Rajput.
The case was similar for 26-year-old farmer Raju Singh, who hanged himself to death in the Alirajpur district because he would not be able to repay his debts after hailstorms devastated his crops.
“There was no other option left for farmers except to end their life. Almost the entire crop was destroyed due to hailstorm. We don’t know how we will survive till the next season,” said Ram Lallan, another farmer in Alirajpur.
Recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms across India have damaged crops, forcing farmers into a desperation that leads to many committing suicide.
Mounting debt has driven many farmers in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to take the extreme step because of their fear of being unable to repay loans.
The situation is most alarming in the western state of Maharashtra, where in the Aurangabad division alone 142 farmers have committed suicide in the first quarter of 2015. The state last year saw 1,160 farmer suicides in the wake of disastrous weather.
Some state governments have announced measures to help farmers but many believe these promises are not enough and that compensation offered is likely to arrive late and not cover their needs. The issue of farmer suicides has long persisted in India, with many having little faith in receiving the support they need to survive after losing their crops.
“We have asked our officials to conduct a ground survey of destruction, so that farmers could be provided compensation,” said Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
His government, as well as that of other states, has claimed to have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance for farmers, to help provide relief from debt repayments.
“I know the condition of agriculture in Maharashtra. I have asked the Chief Secretary to assess the situation. We will provide compensation to farmers after the assessment of damages,” said Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra while talking to the media.
Northern state Uttar Pradesh's government has also released $35 million from the state’s emergency funds and has asked officials to suspend all recovery of dues from farmers.
The farmers claim however that on previous occasions when governments have promised compensation very few farmers have actually received it.
“The government has failed to provide any relief to farmers. Majority of those who were promised compensation after the natural calamity last year are yet to receive compensation. Government officials are not releasing the compensation amount. How will farmers survive?” said Shivnarain Sharma, a leader of farmers in Madhya Pradesh.
Even those who receive compensation find the amount inadequate, covering only a fraction of their losses.
“We don’t believe in compensation. We have to run from pillar to post, visit government officials many times but in the end get assistance of only a few thousand rupees. There is no point in trying to get that compensation,” said Mangatlal, a farmer in Uttar Pradesh's Lalitpur district.
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