Mumbai: Kailas Arjun Nagare, a young farmer from Deulgaon Raja taluka in Buldhana district and a recipient of a state award, tragically took his own life by consuming poisonous chemicals on the morning of March 13.
About The Case
For months, he had been fighting for water from the Khadakpurna Dam for irrigation, but despite his efforts, government neglect left farmers without vital resources. Nagare left a suicide note explaining his decision. His suicide, on Holi day, shook his family and the village. He had been honoured with the Yuva Kisan Award by the Maharashtra government in 2020. Recent data from the state government revealed that thousands of farmers, like Kailas Nagare, have committed suicide in Vidarbha and Marathwada over the past year.
State Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, Makarand Jadhav (Patil), has disclosed that a total of 2,706 farmers from Vidarbha and Marathwada have taken their own lives between January 1 and December 31, 2024. The suicides were attributed to various factors, including climate change, floods, droughts, crop failure, and financial burdens. Minister Patil shared these details in response to a question raised by Members of the Legislative Council, including Shivajirao Garje and Amol Mitkari. In Beed district, 205 farmers committed suicide, in Amravati district 200, in Akola district 168, and in Wardha district 112.
Out of these 2,706 cases, 1,563 have been deemed eligible for assistance. Minister Patil stated that the heirs of 1,101 farmers have received compensation of 30,000 rupees through checks and 70,000 rupees through the bank’s monthly income scheme, totaling 1 lakh rupees. Congress Legislative Leader Vijay Wadettiwar has accused the government of failing to help farmers in such dire circumstances.
He said, “The farmers you award are the same ones who end their lives after struggling for water. What’s the point of such awards? This government shows no compassion for farmers.
NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar Calls For Immediate Action
NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar flagged the growing number of suicides and called for immediate action from both the state and central governments. He said, “The information coming in from some districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha is alarming. We are gathering data from different regions, and the central government must formulate a policy on this matter. They should establish a strategy for providing assistance.”
The opposition pointed out that on the one hand, the state government was providing financial assistance through the popular ‘Ladki bahin Yojana’ for women but on the other hand, the government was neglecting the farmers. Experts have warned that if immediate measures are not taken, the situation could become even more devastating.
Budhajirao Mulik, an agricultural economist told The Free Press Journal that “It is essential for the government to pay attention to the issues of farmers, but at the same time, farmers must learn to navigate through their challenges on their own. Regardless of the government in power, sincere efforts must be made to stop the vicious cycle of issues. While improvements can be made in government policies, farmers should also focus on increasing self-reliance, adopting new agricultural methods, and making informed decisions by using technology and proper business management.”
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