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Farmer suicides-a serious concern
Kashmir Times. Dated: 6/29/2017 12:37:43 PM
Dear Editor,
This refers to your report “Frustrated farmer commits suicide in front of village office” (KT- June 26). Farmers' suicide is a national phenomenon though most cases go unreported. “Health” and “family problems” explain nearly half the suicides in the country. According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, the total of number of suicides committed by farmers for agrarian reasons in the last three years stands at 3313. Farmer suicides are a serious cause of concern for our country.
It is indeed the farmer the feeds our nation. The suicides occurred overwhelmingly amongst cash crop farmers. Poverty and debt are likely a large part of the problem.As a percentage of the total populace, farmers declined by 7 percent during the last decade, and they now constitute less than a quarter of India’s population. Indebtedness has been highlighted as the prime cause and leading public intellectuals have called for an end to the “debt deaths”. Addressing very grass root issues of farmers is imperative now. Farmers' distress is financial and the impending struggles.The real compensation would be in the form of effective policies such as a special economic package for the farmer community.
—Vinod C. Dixit,
B-15 Jyotikalash Society, Ahmedabad.