It may sound bizarre. The three richest States - Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh - which thrive on the globalised economy have accounted for half of the farmers' suicides in India during the last decade.
Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai is the financial nerve centre. Around 25,000 of India's 100,000-dollar millionaires live in the 'maximum city.'
Bangalore, Karnataka's capital, exports software worth Rs. 65,000 crores. It's economy is growing at a rate of 14-15 per cent. In addition, the city creates two lakh new jobs every year.
The tale of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh, is no different. It vies with Bangalore to get an upper hand in Infrastructure development. Moreover, the government constantly offers soaps to major companies to set up their campuses in the capital.
But all the three State governments pay scant attention to the farmers who live behind the facade of the beautifully-lit multi-storied buildings and neon hoardings that dot these richest cities.
Harassed by money-lenders who play dirty tricks to retrieve the borrowed money, these poor souls were forced to end their lives.
NAGARAJ’S STUDY
A recent study by K Nagaraj of Madras Institute of Development Studies throws light into the farmers’ suicides in India during the last decade (Read P. Sainath's report in The Hindu; One farmer’s suicide every 30 minutes )
Analysing the National Crime Records Bureau data, he finds that 1.5 lakh farmers committed suicides in India during the 1997 - 2005 period.
Surprisingly, around 50 per cent of these suicides have occurred in the 'Big Three' States.
Of the 65,774 suicides, Maharashtra has registered 28,911 cases. 20093 farmers took their lives in Karnataka, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 16770 suicides.
Nagaraj's study states that "on an average, one farmer took his life every 53 minutes between 1997 and 2005 in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh."
THE CULPRITS
Governments - both central and respective State - and banks should be held responsible this imbroglio. The governments had failed to provide adequate funds and subsidies for the farmers.
The banks were unwilling to give agricultural loans (I still remember one Sainath article in The Hindu a year ago. The article delves into the agrarian crisis in Waynad district of Kerala. It says: "Banks are not ready to give agricultural loans. Instead, they insist farmers to take the car loan. The farmers then sell the car to find the money for buying seeds and other related activities.)
THE DEEP-ROOTED PROBLEM
The coffers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments have enough money to ameliorate the agrarian crisis. What lacks is a solid action plan.
The government should formulate long-term plans; should advise banks to 'liberalise' their rural lending strategies; should encourage setting up of farmer co-operatives etc.
VIDARBHA MODEL AND ROLE OF MEDIA
Sainath has quoted a study titled "Farmers’ Suicides in Maharashtra: An Overview” by Dr. S.K Goel, the former Divisional Commissioner of Amravati.
The paper reveals that the total number of suicides in the six districts of Vidarbha between 2001 and 2006 was extremely high at 15,980.
But the Maharashtra government has manipulated the data to establish that there is a 'decline' in farmers' suicides.
According to the official figures, less than 20 per cent of the 15,980 suicides were by farmers.
Media organisations, barring a few, did not find it news worthy to report on the official 'jugglery' and the plight of peasants.
Media bosses know that stories of farmers will never help them get high TRP ratings or increase the advertisement revenues.
For them, newsworthiness means 'India Shining' stories - stories from the stock markets - that arouse the passions of Indian middle class.
Then the moot question is - Who'll speak up for the farmers and their vegetable markets?
Do we need an alternative media? Is it the need of our 'good' times?
Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai is the financial nerve centre. Around 25,000 of India's 100,000-dollar millionaires live in the 'maximum city.'
Bangalore, Karnataka's capital, exports software worth Rs. 65,000 crores. It's economy is growing at a rate of 14-15 per cent. In addition, the city creates two lakh new jobs every year.
The tale of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh, is no different. It vies with Bangalore to get an upper hand in Infrastructure development. Moreover, the government constantly offers soaps to major companies to set up their campuses in the capital.
But all the three State governments pay scant attention to the farmers who live behind the facade of the beautifully-lit multi-storied buildings and neon hoardings that dot these richest cities.
Harassed by money-lenders who play dirty tricks to retrieve the borrowed money, these poor souls were forced to end their lives.
NAGARAJ’S STUDY
A recent study by K Nagaraj of Madras Institute of Development Studies throws light into the farmers’ suicides in India during the last decade (Read P. Sainath's report in The Hindu; One farmer’s suicide every 30 minutes )
Analysing the National Crime Records Bureau data, he finds that 1.5 lakh farmers committed suicides in India during the 1997 - 2005 period.
Surprisingly, around 50 per cent of these suicides have occurred in the 'Big Three' States.
Of the 65,774 suicides, Maharashtra has registered 28,911 cases. 20093 farmers took their lives in Karnataka, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 16770 suicides.
Nagaraj's study states that "on an average, one farmer took his life every 53 minutes between 1997 and 2005 in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh."
THE CULPRITS
Governments - both central and respective State - and banks should be held responsible this imbroglio. The governments had failed to provide adequate funds and subsidies for the farmers.
The banks were unwilling to give agricultural loans (I still remember one Sainath article in The Hindu a year ago. The article delves into the agrarian crisis in Waynad district of Kerala. It says: "Banks are not ready to give agricultural loans. Instead, they insist farmers to take the car loan. The farmers then sell the car to find the money for buying seeds and other related activities.)
THE DEEP-ROOTED PROBLEM
The coffers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments have enough money to ameliorate the agrarian crisis. What lacks is a solid action plan.
The government should formulate long-term plans; should advise banks to 'liberalise' their rural lending strategies; should encourage setting up of farmer co-operatives etc.
VIDARBHA MODEL AND ROLE OF MEDIA
Sainath has quoted a study titled "Farmers’ Suicides in Maharashtra: An Overview” by Dr. S.K Goel, the former Divisional Commissioner of Amravati.
The paper reveals that the total number of suicides in the six districts of Vidarbha between 2001 and 2006 was extremely high at 15,980.
But the Maharashtra government has manipulated the data to establish that there is a 'decline' in farmers' suicides.
According to the official figures, less than 20 per cent of the 15,980 suicides were by farmers.
Media organisations, barring a few, did not find it news worthy to report on the official 'jugglery' and the plight of peasants.
Media bosses know that stories of farmers will never help them get high TRP ratings or increase the advertisement revenues.
For them, newsworthiness means 'India Shining' stories - stories from the stock markets - that arouse the passions of Indian middle class.
Then the moot question is - Who'll speak up for the farmers and their vegetable markets?
Do we need an alternative media? Is it the need of our 'good' times?
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