Farmer suicides: Why we cannot afford to look away

Wednesday, April 22 was just another day and would have remained so, but for a makeshift noose hanging from an unknown tree and a sea of (in)humanity swirling around, watching a life slipping away with voyeuristic pleasure. 

The surreal scene would have challenged even Dali. The ensuing aftermath has been a blur, and though it's difficult to focus in the din for too long, one saw the usual statistics of dead farmers, screaming speeches, reporters doing their duty even in the midst of the tragic circumstances, editors castigating one and all they could point at, cameras beaming every passing second of detail from the stage to the tree, every step measured, every sound scrutinised, the farmer's life and hometown analysed threadbare and of course, politicians blaming every opponent.

The race for higher and speedy compensation for the famer's family will go on in the coming days. As one looked on, the anger and horror of it all started to sink in. The cinematic liberties and exaggeration of the movie Peepli Live suddenly seemed benign in comparison to the reality of it all, as one tried desperately to stop the drop of blood trying to escape the corner of the eye. The sea of 'concerned cacophonous humanity' apart, the only thing that spoke louder was the silent face of the father and the lowered fixed gaze of the mother.  

Here, I am reminded of Roger Waters' song It's A Miracle

"An honest man finally reaped what he had sown
And a farmer in Ohio (Delhi) has just repaid a loan
It's a miracle, it's a miracle
It's a miracle, another miracle
By the grace of God Almighty
And the pressures of the marketplace
The human race has civilised itself
It's a miracle"

Though the prognosis looks like a bleak abyss, as an optimist, I do think there is still hope. This is not the time to deconstruct the crime, as for that, too many are too eager, but to construct the future. Whether a farmer or a turban-maker, a human has died in front of the entire nation. As a start, I hope the Prime Minister instructs the Agriculture Ministry to immediately create or strengthen a dedicated helpline for farmers in distress in every state which can facilitate timely action by state governments and financial institutions. It must be well advertised and manned 24/7. Secondly, the MIS module should be created for disbursement of all grants to states, blocks and villages for farmers in disaster-related issues. It should be available for all to access and provide much needed information along with transparency and accountability. Thirdly, engaging with volunteers will help in this mammoth task. I'm sure many like me would be ready to pledge time to volunteer for any such government-initiated program for farmers.

The author is a Delhi-based architect, Advisor to DMICDC and Head of construction for a skill-training program with an NGO.