Key Points:
- 767 farmers died by suicide in Maharashtra between January and March 2025 one every three hours.
- Only 373 families found eligible for government compensation; 200 declared ineligible, 194 cases still under review.
- Rs 1 lakh compensation provided to 327 eligible families so far; delays and pending cases spark outrage.
- Vidarbha and Marathwada remain the worst-affected regions, with Beed district topping the list.
- Opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, accuses state and central governments of indifference, citing rising debt, high input costs, and lack of MSP guarantee.
- Political blame game intensifies as BJP counters with suicide figures from previous Congress-NCP governments.
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s agrarian crisis has reached alarming new heights, with 767 farmer suicides reported in just the first three months of 2025 an average of one suicide every three hours. This grim statistic, revealed by Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Patil in the state assembly, has triggered a fierce political storm and renewed calls for urgent intervention.
Compensation: Most Families Left Without Aid
Of the 767 reported suicides, only 373 families were found eligible for the state’s Rs 1 lakh compensation. Another 200 families were declared ineligible, while 194 cases remain under investigation. As of now, compensation has reached 327 eligible families, with officials directed to expedite pending payments. The eligibility criteria requiring proof that the suicide was linked to agrarian distress or debt often excludes many families from receiving aid.
Regional Hotspots: Vidarbha and Marathwada
The crisis is most acute in Vidarbha and Marathwada, regions long plagued by drought, crop failures, and mounting debts. In the first quarter of 2025, Vidarbha’s western districts (Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim) alone accounted for 257 suicides. Marathwada saw 192 suicides in the same period, with Beed district reporting the highest toll.
Political Uproar and Opposition Criticism
The shocking numbers have led to heated debates in the Maharashtra Assembly, with the opposition staging walkouts and accusing the government of apathy. Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders have slammed both the state and central governments for “watching with indifference” as farmers sink deeper into debt. They highlight rising costs of seeds, fertilizers, and diesel, lack of a legal Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee, and delays in loan waivers as key drivers of despair.
“These aren’t just numbers. These are 767 shattered homes. 767 families that will never recover. And the government? Silent. Watching with indifference,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X.
Government Response and Policy Measures
In response, the Maharashtra government has reiterated its commitment to compensation schemes and crop loss cover, and has directed divisional commissioners to clear pending aid cases quickly. The government has also cited ongoing initiatives like crop insurance and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, but critics argue these measures have failed to stem the rising tide of suicides.
Political Blame Game
The BJP has countered opposition criticism by pointing to high suicide figures during previous Congress-NCP governments, arguing that the crisis is longstanding and complex. However, farmer advocacy groups and opposition leaders maintain that the current administration must do more to address the root causes especially as the 2025 suicide rate threatens to surpass previous years (2,635 suicides in 2024; 2,851 in 2023).
The Human Toll
Behind the statistics are families devastated by loss and left without support. Many face bureaucratic hurdles in accessing compensation, while others are excluded due to strict eligibility norms. Farmer unions have called for urgent reforms, timely disbursement of aid, and long-term solutions to address rural distress.
As Maharashtra’s monsoon season begins, the pressure is mounting on the government to act decisively and prevent further tragedy in the state’s farming communities.
