Marathwada, Maharashtra: The heart-wrenching saga of farmer suicides continues unabated in the drought-affected Marathwada region. Over the past six months, a staggering 430 farmers have taken their own lives, casting a grim shadow over the state’s agricultural landscape. Most hauntingly, these tragedies have struck closest to home—the hometown of Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Dhananjay Munde, in Beed district.
Beed District Bears the Brunt
Beed, a parched district in Marathwada, has witnessed 101 farmer suicides during this period. The relentless cycle of crop failure, mounting debts, and despair has pushed these rural breadwinners to the brink. The harshness of the weather compounds their struggles, leaving them with little hope.
Ex-Gratia and Investigation
An official report reveals that 30 farmers in Beed took their lives in June alone. Among the 101 cases, 46 were eligible for ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh, while five were deemed ineligible. The remaining 50 cases are under consideration. Statewide, out of the total 430 suicides, 256 qualified for ex-gratia assistance. Of these, 169 received aid, while 20 applications were rejected, and investigations continue in 154 cases.
Grim Statistics Across Marathwada
The Divisional Commissioner’s Office paints a grim picture across Marathwada. Apart from Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar saw 64 farmer suicides, followed by 40 in Jalna, 31 in Parbhani, 17 in Hingoli, 68 in Nanded, 33 in Latur, and 76 in Dharashiv. These numbers underscore the severity of the crisis.
Desperate Circumstances
RTI activist Jitendra Ghadge’s inquiry revealed that a staggering 1,046 farmers took their lives between January and May 2024. The situation has deteriorated rapidly due to crop losses exacerbated by drought. Families struggle to put food on the table, let alone afford education for their children. Loans taken for survival often become insurmountable burdens, driving farmers to the tragic choice of suicide.
