National

Maharashtra Sees Highest Farmer Suicides Yet The Issue Is Away From Elections

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Maharashtra recorded 57,160 farmer suicides between 2014-2022. In other words, around 17 farmers committed suicide every day. Despite this, the issue is scarcely mentioned in the state's electoral debates.

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Seshraj Tayde
Farmer Suicide Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook

Same but different - Seshraj Tayde, an 81-year old farmer lost his youngest son Giridhar in 2022. Giridhar ended his life due to suicide in the same room where his parents now sleep.

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Ashish Mangde
Farmer suicides | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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Gone too soon - 26-year old Ashish Mangde ended his life in the second wave of Covid-19 in 2021. Ashish was under heavy debt, his elder brother Rahul said, and now her mother at times sits in silence.

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Krushnarao Langde
Farmer suicides in Amrawati | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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All in the memories - Krushnarao Langde died in April 2022 due to health issues. He was stressed for a long time due to getting less compensation for his land for a railway project near Amravati. Now residing in Salora village, his widow holds his picture and their memories.

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Madhukar Patil
Farmer Suicide | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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Debt trap - Madhukar Patil’s family awaits compensation from the government which they said will take seven years. The compensation is a mere Rs 70,000 against a debt of Rs 5 lakhs. Madhulkar Patil died due to suicide in November 2022.

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Maharashtra Farmer Suicides gallery Shivaji Namdeo Nikam
Shivaji Namdeo Nikam | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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More than enough - Shivaji Namdeo Nikam shows his rotten onion produce. In August and September of this year, Tisgaon received more than normal rainfall, damaging his onion farm.

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Maharashtra Farmer Suicides, Farmer Suicide
Farmer suicides in Maharashtra | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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Waiting for? - As the cows are ready for the plowing season, Madhukar Patil’s widow wonders who will lead the cows and plow now.

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Maharashtra Farmer Suicides Vinayak Shinde
Maharashtra Farmer | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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To new season - Vinayak Shinde, a second-generation farmer from Tisgaon near Nashik readies his farm for Rabi season’s onion farming.

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Maharashtra Farmer Suicides, Eknath Shinde
CM Eknath Shinde | Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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A huge success - Women from Shilapur near Nashik got a cut-out of CM Eknath Shinde to celebrate Bhau Beej. The women said that the Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana of the Shinde-led Mahayuti government has been a huge success.