BENGALURU: Since April this year, two farmers are committing suicide every day in Karnataka, taking the toll to 457 till last week. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district of Mysuru has reported 34 farmer suicides so far. And 1,475 such deaths were reported in 2015-16—the highest in recent years.
The year before saw 122 suicides, while in 2013-14, the number was 58. However, for many bereaved families, compensation remains a pipe dream, thanks to procedural lapses and callousness of corrupt officials. The state agricultural department does not accept all suicides as worthy of reparation. Officials said, “If a farmer is unable to clear agricultural loans of authorised banks or financiers and kills himself, it is not considered a farmer’s suicide by the Karnataka government. Loans taken for other purposes, or even agricultural loans taken from unauthorised financial institutions are not accepted as legitimate.”
Of the 457 cases, 210 applications have been accepted and 74 rejected while 173 remain pending with district authorities. Agricultural officials said, “In 2015-16, of 1,475 suicides reported 986 applications were accepted and 463 rejected while 26 applications remain pending.”
Elaborating how the department considers a farmer’s death or suicide, authorities said, “In each district, a committee headed by the assistant commissioner scrutinises the reasons for the deaths. If a suicide is certified as having been caused by crop loss, the assistant director of the agriculture department is informed.”
Compensation entails Rs 5 lakh, free education up to postgraduation for children of the dead farmer, monthly pension of Rs 2,000 to his widow and government health benefits for the family.
What often goes unreported is how unscrupulous officials withhold relief money and bereaved families are made to run around and forced to offer bribes to get their compensation sanctioned. The tragedy of farmers’ suicides in Karnataka is that the dependents have to borrow from moneylenders to pay bribes. The vicious cycle doesn’t end.