Government: 10,561 farmer suicides in 12 years

As many as 10,561 farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha in a span of 12 years.
This figure was provided in a written reply to state legislative assembly members Anil Bawankar, Subhash Zanak and others on Thursday by minister for relief and rehabilitation Patangrao Kadam. Western Vidarbha accounted for 8,352 of these suicides.

Apart from various departments taking measures to curb farmer suicides, the prime minister had announced a relief package worth Rs3,750 crore and the chief minister, a Rs1,075 crore package.

Buldhana district in Vidarbha saw 153 suicides in 2012 alone, 66 of which qualified for aid as per the prevailing rules and hence, their kin had been given government aid.

However, 58.74% of the 5,808 farmer suicides that the regions Yavatmal, Washim, Akola and Wardha witnessed in the last 12 years, were found ineligible for government aid.

Of the 59 farmer suicides in Gadchiroli district, 33 cases were found eligible for aid.

Moreover, in Georai taluka in Beed district of Marathwada, 102 farmers committed suicides in the same period, 55 of which were found eligible for aid, 44 non-eligible and three are pending final decision.

@DNA