Nagpur, 16 Oct (HS): India consists of over 16

per cent of the world population, but sustains only 2.4 per cent of land

resources. Two-third of its population, which provides employment toto its workforce and is a large number of

industries get raw material from this source. However, growing farmers’

suicides is a major concern for the country. Despite launching several measures

and schemes announced by both the Union and State governments, farmers’ suicide

has been increasing with year.

Farmers’ suicide counts for 10

per cent of total suicides in India. The national suicide rate of 10.60 per

lakh of the population, and the number is 14.2 per lakh. Andhra Pradesh

12.1/lakh, Telangana – 27.2/lakh and Chandigarh – 27.7/lakh. Every seventh

suicide in the country is of a famer.

In Maharashtra, particularly the

Vidarbha and the Marathwada region, farmers’ suicide is 60 per cent higher than

the general suicide rate. Every fifth farmers’ suicide in the country occurred

in Maharashtra. Every 7th suicide in the country is by a farmer in

the country. Every 5th suicide by a farmer is in Maharashtra.

The Union and State Governments

launched several measures to prevent farmers’ suicide. In Maharashtra counselling, schemes like ‘Jalyukta

Shivar’, efforts by NGOs like ‘Pani Foundation’ and ‘Naam Foundation’, worked

hard to generate awareness on saving water through systematic planning. The

schemes were successful some parts of the state. But lectures and seminars for

generating awareness among rural population is not enough. Naam Foundation was

working with the farmers and also generating funds for the constructive work.

Psychiatrists and Psychologists across

the world have been debating over the root cause of suicide. Whether the

suicidal tendency is already present in the brain or depends on external

factors like indebtedness, tension related to failure or fear of failure,

inability to fulfil expectations, domestic conditions, alcoholism or other addictions,

lack of patience or non-preparedness to sustain critical situation like how to

face failure etc.

This year drought in about 80 per

cent of its geographical area and fear of severe water scarcity in the coming

summer has affected psyche of the people, particularly rural population. The

financial support announced by the government is not sufficient for survival of

those who are totally dependent on agriculture sector.

Studies conducted

in western countries have found psychosocial factors to be the foremost cause

of suicide among their farmers. According to their studies, trying to balance

the day to day farming operations with their family life was a stressful task.

On the contrary, Indian studies found that socioeconomic issues due to crop

losses and accumulating loans led farmers to commit suicide.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

There are multiple government

welfare schemes currently available to farmers across the country to support

the agriculture industry and improve the socioeconomic conditions of those

involved in the farming industry. A few of the numerous yojanas are mentioned

below.

1.PM Kisan Scheme: Starting from

December 2018, 120 million small farmers with <2 hectares of land can get up

to Rs. 6000/year in three installments and minimum income support

2.Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan

Yojana: This yojana allows small and marginalized farmers ages 18–40 years to

make monthly contributions which ultimately ensures a minimum pension of Rs.

3000/month when they turn 60 years of age

3.Kisan Credit Card scheme:

Provides timely access to short-time formal credit to buy equipment and other

necessary expenses

4.Pashu Kisan Credit Card Scheme:

Farmers are provided loans to buy livestock like cows, buffalos, and goats to

encourage the growth and development of animal husbandry

5.Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana:

This scheme was implemented to encourage organic farming to improve soil health

and boost the farmers' net income

6.Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai

Yojana: This scheme is concentrated on providing permanent solutions to

irrigation problems and helping harvest rainwater

e-National Agriculture Market: Provided a

nationwide e-marketing platform to bring transparency and revolutionize the

agriculture market.

PREVENTION

Overall, solutions such as

subsidies, loan waivers, crop insurance, and other welfare schemes have failed

due to improper implementation. Worse still, compensation after a suicide has

sometimes provided an incentive for suicide. In addition, loan waivers are

often politically motivated which erode the rural credit delivery system. Over

the years, twelve Indian states have claimed to waive pending loans, but the

India Comptroller and Auditor General's report revealed errors in the inclusion

and exclusions criteria for the beneficiaries and other unbridled corruption.

As primary preventive measures,

as a response to the psychological distress faced by farmers and their family

members, psychiatrists across the country are endeavoring to research

preventive measures and solutions to the core risk factors of farmer suicide. The

farming communities fear the stigma to psychiatric illness and treatment which

need to be studied and addressed. Studies show that if given the opportunity

and resources, forty percent of farmers would opt to change their careers.

The government needs to

acknowledge that farmers face fluctuating weather conditions and various other

expenses for the successful cultivation of their crops. By providing fair

prices for their products and offering farming loans at realistically

affordable interest rates, the financial stress of many farmers can be eliminated.

Crop loan policies need to be revised and schemes ensuring loans carrying

minimal or no interest at the start of every season should be available.

Indian farmers' suicide has been

determined to be primarily due to recurring debt and hence this pitfall needs

to be addressed as one of the core risks factors and realistic solutions need

to be implemented. A great way to resolve this issue is by ensuring profits

while protecting from failure and debt. Unreliable weather issues interlinked

with irrigation problems may be taught to be managed by harvesting rainwater

and resolving interstate river water disputes. While older generation farmers

should be taught modern farming practices to make their tasks simple, younger

generation farmers should be encouraged and educated about the use of modern

and mechanical farming techniques. Farmers should also be simultaneously

provided training in alternative sources of income like goat farming, poultry,

dairy farming, and animal husbandry.

Secondary preventive measures

include identifying the high-risk persons suffering from psychiatric illnesses

and providing treatment and teaching them simple coping mechanisms. The

identification and evaluation process can be done by the grassroots individuals

and gatekeepers who can further refer them to higher psychiatric centers for

management and counselling as and when required.

Tertiary measures involve

rehabilitation of rescued attempters and reaching out and providing help to the

survivors of completed suicides. While providing monetary relief is a

short-term solution, the surviving family members should be provided

psychiatric counseling on coping strategies and guided trained to support

themselves independently. Children should be provided free and easy access to education.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar