HYDERABAD: At least 85 farmers have ended their lives in Telangana this year, according to data released by the Rythu Swarjya Vedika (RSV), which is an umbrella association of farmers and NGOs.
A survey conducted by B Kondal Reddy of RSV has showed that most of the suicides were recorded in Medak and Nalgonda, followed by Adilabad and Bhupalapally districts. A majority of the farmers chose to take the extreme step due to debts and crop loss.
Mounting debts had led to N Komaraiah of Kialpur Sivar Shantibagar in Bhupalapally ending his life by consuming poison on May 5. His family alleged that he had borrowed money to cultivate 5 acres. With to returns in sight, he went into depression and killed himself. Ashaboyi, a woman farmer from Dongli in Kamareddy district, hanged herself to death when she didn’t get any returns from the cultivated paddy and came under debt.
In another instance, V Hemla and his wife Tulasi in Lachiram Tanda of Khammam district ended their lives on May 17. “They sold three acres out of six acres for marriage expenses of their child and cultivated crop in the remaining land. However they did not receive proper yield due to which they killed themselves,” said Kondal Reddy.
“There is an urgent need for a detailed study on farmer suicides. Tenant farmers are worst hit. Since the formation of Telangana, around 4,600 farmer suicides were recorded by us but the state has reported only 1,600 suicides. Most of the suicides are of cotton farmers,” he added.
State Crime Records Bureau is yet to release any figures on farmer suicides. Police officials have also not responded on RSV’s data.
Courtesy The Times of India
