Tuesday, December 19, 2006

15 more farm suicides in the killing fields of Vidarbha

15 more farm suicides in the killing fields of Vidarbha
shows no sign of stopping.-ndtv reports


Watch story Farmer suicides continue in Vidarbha


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1. Can the chief minister tell us how many more lives will be lost?
We have seen two suicides in just two months. How many more?"??????????



2."We were hoping that the state would increase cotton procurement prices.
But that didn't happen.


3."Her friends were getting married. She was receiving proposals too. But she knew her marriage would mean more debts. She was so troubled," said Vaksala Meshram, Rajeshwari's mother.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 (Nagpur):

The number of people taking their life in the killing fields of Vidarbha shows no sign of stopping.

Ten farmers committed suicide on Saturday alone. Fifteen farmers have committed suicide since last Friday; the day Maharashtra government announced a direct subsidy up to Rs 3000 to contain the suicides.

A scant subsidy meant some more debt and death of more dreams.

Komal can now only dream of being a technician as his father's death has ended his life as a student.

"My father was in debt and killed himself. Can the chief minister tell us how many more lives will be lost? We have seen two suicides in just two months. How many more?" said Komal.

Rajeswari killed herself because her debt-trapped family was worried about her marriage, which was impossible given the family's financial condition.

"Her friends were getting married. She was receiving proposals too. But she knew her marriage would mean more debts. She was so troubled," said Vaksala Meshram, Rajeshwari's mother.

More farmers are being pushed to the edge in the region. Two weeks into the cotton sale season they find the government support price is too low and barely any government markets are open for the buy.

"We were hoping that the state would increase cotton procurement prices. But that didn't happen. Now I have to sell my balance yield to a private trader," said Punjab Chavan, a cotton farmer.

Chavan is not ready to sell the balance yield to the government, as it would deduct 50 per cent of the income towards loan payment.

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