CHAPTER IV

STRATEGIES ADOPTED FOR PREVENTION OF

FARMERS SUICIDE
The crises in the Indian agriculture sector cropped up as a result privatization;
liberalization and globalization during nineties that have brought changes in the agriculture
sector. The small farmers in India are the major farming community and the largest farming
community in the world was adversely affected due to these changes. This community is on
the verge of extinction due to the conditions imposed by WTO. The World Bank's structural
adjustment policies forced India to open up its seed sector to global corporations in 1998.
Farm saved seeds were replaced by corporate seeds which needed fertilizers and pesticides.
Agriculture became a costly affair. The Indian small farmers have failed to adjust with these
changes. Managing finance for the agricultural work became a difficult task. Understanding
the problems that have cropped up in farming some small farmers gave up farming and
shifted other occupations. The farmers who failed to cope up to the changes were driven to
suicide in the depressed state. Emile Durkheim an authority on the study of suicide states that
in periods of rapid change people are abruptly thrown in to unfamiliar situations. Rules that
once guided behavior no longer hold (Cited by Adler., Mueller and Laufer. 1998). More
than one lakh small farmers in the country have given up farming since 1992. Young people
do not show interest in farm work looking to the present plight of the farmers and unhealthy
environment in the farm sector. The Government of India and also various State
Governments have taken measures to instill the confidence among the farming community
and encourage farming. Various Commissions and committees have been appointed to study
and suggest measures to resolve the crises in this sector. The Government of India has set up
the National Commission on Farmers in February 2004 under the Chairmanship of well-

69

known agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. The Commission started its work with a
declaration that Serving Farmers and Saving Farming. The National Commission for
Farmers is formed with the objective to prepare the road map for sustainable development of
agriculture and optimizing its contribution to growth and development of economy,
particularly improving the income and standard of living of farmers. The commission has the
power to recommend policies, programmes and measures for accelerated and diversified
agricultural development to alleviate rural poverty and impart viability and attractiveness to
farming as a remunerative and rewarding profession. The Union and the State Governments
formulate policies from time to time to articulate clear vision on few basic parameters of
agricultural sector. To achieve self sufficiency in the agriculture sector and also food security
to the country the national policy is devised under the chairmanship of Dr. M. S.
Swaminathan, Chairman National Farmers Commission. This policy is formulated with the
objective of assisting the hard working women and men in the country to ensure glorious
destiny for the country in the field of agriculture and food security. For the purpose of this
policy broad definition of the term farmers is given. According it the term farmers refer
to both men and women, and include landless agricultural labourers, sharecroppers, tenants,
small, marginal and sub-marginal cultivators, farmers with larger holdings, fishers, livestock
and poultry rearers, pastoralists, small plantation farmers, as well as rural and tribal families
engaged in a wide variety of farming related occupation such as apiculture, sericulture and
vermiculture. The term will include tribal families sometimes engaged in shifting cultivation
and in the collection and use of non-timber forest products. Farm and Home Science
Graduates earning their livelihoods from crop and animal husbandry, fisheries and agroforestry will have their rightful place in the world of farmers and farming.

70

The above definition of farmers covers all the farm related occupations. The
researcher in the present study confined only to such farmers who are exclusively engaged
in agriculture and living on the earnings of agriculture.
On line with the Central Government the Government of Karnataka also brought
Farmer Centric Agriculture Policy Document in 2006. The focus of Karnataka agriculture
policy documents is on doubling the agriculture production in a decade time and achieving the
growth rate 4.5% per annum in this sector thereby increasing net income of farmer and
restoring for lost glory of the farmer as Annadatha.
The Planning Commission of India in its approach paper on agriculture to the XI Five
Year Plan December 2006 states that Economic growth has failed to be sufficiently
inclusive particularly after mid- 1990s. Agriculture lost its growth momentum from that point
onwards and subsequently entered a near crises situation, reflected in farmer suicides in some
areas.
Mounting indebtedness of farmers is posing severe challenge to both the Union and
the State governments not only in providing for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims
families but also in preventing the very phenomenon of farmers suicides. Expressing her
views on the suicidal behavior in general Lakshmi Vijaykumar (2007) points out that for the
overwhelming majority who engage in suicidal behavior, there is a probably an appropriate
alternative resolution of the precipitating problems. She further points out that Suicide is
often a permanent solution to the temporary problem. When a farmer ends his life, it
naturally leaves the survivors in distress on economic, social and psychological fronts. The
spate of farmers suicides is witnessed since two decades in different districts of Karnataka.
Dharwad district is also one of the districts which has witnessed 75 suicides from 2003-2010.

71

The experts from various fields have analyzed and provided effective explanations to the
problem of farmers suicide and suggested remedial measures to overcome the problem of
this community.
4.1

GOVERNMENTAL MEASURES
To prevent the incidents of suicide among farming community and to instill

confidence in them the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka have taken
various measures by announcing packages to the farming community. The Government of
India has released rehabilitation package of Rs 19,163.91 crore since 2006 covering 31
districts in four statesAndhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, to address the
problem of agrarian distress. The period for implementation of non credit components of
package was subsequently extended by two more years till September 2011.
The Union Agriculture Ministry has given guidelines to determine the farmers
suicides as eligible and ineligible. According the guidelines issued by the Ministry an
eligible farmers suicide has to comply the requirement 40 clauses on the enquiry list then
only the victims family is eligible to get the compensation of the government. (Anonymous
2010).
The Government of Karnataka initially paid the compensation of rupees one lakh to
the families of the victims. The suicides by farming community went on increasing without
any check. Later, it was felt by governmental machinery that the payment of compensation
could be one of the reasons for the acts of self destruction. Further, it was also noticed in
some cases suicides due personal reasons were equated with the suicides due to failure of
crops to get compensation from the state. To overcome these problems the Government of
Karnataka formed a Reviewing Committee of farmer suicide cases under the chairmanship of

72

Assistant Commissioner. The Assistant Director of Agriculture as its Member Secretary,

Taluka Tahasildar, Police Circle Inspector, Area Manager of the concerned Bank, Medical
Officer as the members to enquire the cause of suicide and to recommend for compensation.
The compensation paid to the victims of farm suicides has been given in table 4.2.1.
4.1.1

THE RELIEF MEASURES AVAILABLE TO FARMERS

A number of relief measures are already available in the schemes sponsored both by

the Government of India and the State Governments. They include the Calamity Relief Fund.
National Family Benefit Scheme, Raitha Sanjeevani Scheme, Pledge Loan Scheme,
Rashtreeya Krishi Bhima Yojana, Minimum Support Price and Sankata Harana Scheme
implemented by the IFFCO.
The measures taken by the Government of Karnataka include seeds and other
agricultural products at subsidized rates to small and marginal farmers, training of new
agricultural technology, encouraging organic farming, disbursing crop loan at 3% in
commercial banks. And profitable scheme aimed at increasing agricultural productivity
(Anonymous 2011).
1

Insurance Schemes
A number of insurance schemes are available both for farmers and public. All these

schemes are guided by the policies applicable in general to any insured persons. Some of the
insurance schemes like (i) Janatha Rural Personal Accident Insurance, (ii) Rajarajeswari
Mahila Kalyana Insurance, (iii) Bhagyashree Female Child Kalyana Yojane, (iv) Insurance
for agriculture Pump Sets, (v) Horticulture/Plantation/Floriculture/Flower Insurance Scheme
(vi) Insurance on Livestock, (vii) Insurance on Poultry, (viii) Insurance on Carts, (ix)
Standard Kissan Package Policy, have all been offered by the Oriental Insurance Company

73

which directly aimed in covering the farmers and their families. The new India Assurance
Company also has (i) Gram Arogya Yojane, (ii) Insurance on livestock, (iii) Insurance on
Poultry, (iv) Insurance on Krishi Pump sets and (v) Janatha Rural Personal accidental
Insurance offering some competitive premium range. The life Insurance Corporation of India
also has Janashree Bima Yojana.
2

Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana (RKBY)

The Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme was implemented in the state from 1985

to Kharif 1999. Subsequently, a new scheme of National Agricultural Insurance Scheme also
called Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana was introduced by the Government of India during
1999-2000 to Rabi. However the State implemented the scheme from Kharif 2000. The main
objectives of the scheme are to provide insurance coverage and financial support to farmers
in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests and
diseases and to encourage farmers to adopt progressive farming practices, with high value
inputs and improved technology, besides to stabilize farming income particularly in the
disaster years. In the event of the death of the farmer due to unexpected event the agricultural
loan he has availed from various financial Institutions including cooperative Societies is
waived off and the compensation is paid to the victims family. The detail of the crop
insurance paid has been given in table 4.2.2.
3

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

The Minimum Support Price is one of the important mechanisms developed and

implemented jointly by the Central and State Government over years to avoid distress sale of
agricultural produce. This implemented for mandated crops like paddy, jowar Maize, Bajra,
tur, green gram, black gram, soybean groundnut sunflower, Bengal gram and cotton.

74

However, in Karnataka market intervention scheme for potato, onion etc. is in operation.
Likewise, floor price scheme for selected commodities like tur, copra etc. is also being
implemented.
4.

National Food Security Mission

In order to increase the productivity of farm produce and to give ultimate advantage

to the farmers, the Government of India through Ministry of Agriculture has introduced
various programmes in which National Food Security Mission (NSFM) is one of the major
programme formulated to increase the productivity of pulses.
5.

Sankata Harana
This is a novel scheme introduced by IFFCO during 2001-02. Under this scheme any

farmer purchasing fertilizers through cooperative societies would qualify for the relief for
accidental death.
6.

Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) for KCC Holders

Personal Accident Insurance Scheme covers Kisan Credit Card Holders. The United

India Insurance Company Limited is the nodal agency for implementation of this scheme in
Karnataka State. The progress achieved, as of December 2001 is 2, 49,704 persons with a
premium of 71.61 lakhs. The new KCC holders are to be covered under PAIS.
Karnataka Agriculture Budget 2011.
Karnataka State is the first state in the country to have an Agriculture Budget in the
country. The highlights of the budget are

Providing of crop loans at 1 per cent interest rate and earmarked Rs 17,857 crore for
agriculture, allied and irrigation sector development.

75

The rate of interest on crop loans of up to Rs 3 lakh from cooperative institutions

would be reduced from 3 per cent to 1 per cent.

An amount of Rs 1000 is provided for development of 10 lakh farmers families

under the Suvarna Bhoomi Yojana scheme.

Rs 200 crore is reserved for encouraging organic farming.

To facilitate the educational facilities funds are allocated in the higher education to
provide interest free loan for the higher education farmers children.

4.2.1

Particulars of Compensation paid to Victims Families

Table 4.2.1: Particulars of Compensation Paid to Victims Families

Size-class of land

Compensation

Total

Yes (%)

No (%)

Marginal Scale (0-2.5acrs)

5 (6.66)

7 (9.34)

12

Small-Scale (2.5-5 acres)

10 (13.33)

25 (33.34)

35

Semi-medium Scale (5-10 acres)

5 (6.66)

15 (20)

20

Medium Scale (10-20 acres)

1 (1.33)

5 (6.66)

2 (2.66)

21 (28)

54 (72)

75

Large Scale (20+ acres )

Total

Number of Compensation

Figure 4.2.1: Particulars of Compensation paid to Victims Families

30
25
20
15
10

Yes (%)
No (%)

5
0
Marginal
Scale

SmallScale

Semimedium
Scale

Medium
Scale

Size-class of land

76

Large
Scale

To know the particulars of the crop insurance details of the victims families, loan
availed by them for the agricultural work, utility of the farmers helpline by farm victims
families the researcher has obtained data from the respondents and the details of the same has
been depicted in tables 4.2.2, 4.2.3 and 4.2.4.
Dharwad district has recorded 75 cases of farm suicides from 2003 - 2010. Of the 75
farm victims compensation is paid in only 21 cases on the bases of thorough enquiry made
by the committee. The details of the compensation paid to the families of victims of Dharwad
district is given in table 4.2.1. After thorough enquiry on the bases of committee report
compensation is paid in 21 cases. Compensation has not been recommended in 54 cases. The
committee felt that 54 cases do not fall in the guidelines given for the recommendation for
compensation. Out of 75 suicide cases, 21 farmer families have received one lakh Rs (1lakh)
compensation.
4.2.2

Particulars of Crop Insurance of Victims Families

Table 4.2.2: Particulars of Crop Insurance of Victims Families
(No of cases)
Crop Insurance
Size-class of land

Yes (%)

No (%)

Total

Marginal Scale (0-2.5acrs)

2 (2.66)

10 (13.33)

12

Small- Scale (2.5-5 acres)

6 (8)

29 (38.66)

35

Semi-medium Scale (5-10 acres)

3 (4)

17(22.66)

20

Medium Scale (10-20 acres)

3 (4)

3 (4)

Large Scale (20+ acres )

1 (1.33)

1 (1.330

Total

15 (20)

60 (80)

75

77

Figure 4.2.2: Particulars of Crop Insurance of Victims Families

Number of Crop Insurance

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Yes (%)
No (%)

Marginal
Scale

SmallScale

Semimedium
Scale

Medium
Scale

Large
Scale

Size-class of land

The detail about the crop insurance of the victims lands is given in table 4.2.2. A
farmer has his own reasons to commit suicide. One of the reasons could be the loss crop due
to draught/unprecedented rainfall. The other reasons could be return of debt. Being unable to
bear the mental depression the farmers surrender to suicide. Of the 75 cases of farmers
suicides in Dharwad District crop insurance is paid in 15 cases. Of the 15 cases 2 farmers
were belonging to marginal scale, 6 farmers were of smallscale, 3 farmers were belonging
to semi-medium scale, 3 farmers were of medium scale and one farmer of large-scale were
the beneficiaries. The crop insurance was denied in 60 cases.
4.2.3

Particulars of crop loan availed by victims families

Table 4.2.3: Particulars of Crop Loan Availed by Victims Families
Crop loan

Size-class of land

Yes (%)

No (%)

Total

Marginal Scale (0-2.5acrs)

12 (16)

12

Small- Scale (2.5-5 acres)

9 (12)

26 (34.66)

35

Semi-medium Scale (5-10 acres)

5 (6.66)

15 (20)

20

Medium Scale (10-20 acres)

4 (5.34)

2 (2.66)

Large Scale (20+ acres )

1 (1.34)

1 (1.33)

19 (25.34)

56 (74.66)

75

Total

78

Number of cases

Figure 4.2.3: Particulars of Crop Loan Availed by Victims Families

30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Yes (%)
No (%)

Marginal
Scale

SmallScale

Semimedium
Scale

Medium
Scale

Large
Scale

Size-class of land

The information on the facility of crop loan availed by the farmers has been given in
table 4.2.3. Of the 75 farmers who have committed suicides 19 of the victims had taken crop
loans with different financial institutions and 56 farmers had not availed any crop loan.
However, the details of their private loans if any with private money lenders are not revealed
by the victims. In the small- scale category 35 farmers have committed suicide, only 9 of
them have availed the crop loan and 26 of them had not availed any crop loan. In the semimedium farmers category 20 farmers have committed suicide; 5 farmers have availed the
crop loan facility and 15 farmers had not availed this facility. The marginal farm victims
have not availed any crop loan facilities. One of the reasons for not availing the loan facilities
could be minimum land holding by the farmers or lack of knowledge about crop loan
facilities.

79

4.2.4 Particulars of Utility of Farmers Helpline by farm Victims Families

Table 4.2.4: Particulars of Utility of Farmers Helpline by the Farm Victims Families
Size-class of land

Farmers Helpline

Total

Yes (%)

No (%)

Dont know (%)

Marginal Scale (0-2.5acrs)

4 (5.33)

8 (10.66)

12

Small- Scale (2.5-5 acres)

2 (2.66)

13 (17.33)

20 (26.66)

35

3 (4)

4 (5.33)

13 (17,33)

20

Medium Scale (10-20 acres)

1 (1.33)

2 (2.66)

3 (4)

Large Scale (20+ acres )

1 (1,33)

1 (1.33)

7 (9.32)

23 (30.65)

45 (59.98)

75

Semi-medium Scale (5-10 acres)

Total

Ministry of Agriculture Government of India provides helpline for farmers known as

Kisan Call Center throughout the country to serve as an easy knowledge access point to the
farmers. This service is available to farmers from 21st June 2004. The farmers can use the toll
free number 1551 from anywhere in India from 6 AM to 10 PM except Sundays and
holidays. The farmers can enquire about the various problems related to the crops such as
fertilizers, agricultural commodity prices, pesticides etc. Responses to the farmers are given
in their local language (http://www.dirrcat.org/). In Karnataka Ministry of Agriculture started
the toll free Farmers Helpline facility in 2009. The farmers of the state can call 1800-4253553 to get the instant guidance from experts in the Agricultural Department. The services on
this helpline will be available between 7 am and 9 pm, daily on all the days of the year
irrespective of holidays (http://www.hinduonnet.com). The family members of victims were
enquired about their awareness of the Farmers Helpline facility.
The particulars of utility of farmers helpline by the farm victims families has been
depicted in table 4.2.4. Of the 75 farmers committed suicide, 12 farmers were belonging to

80

marginal category. Only 4 farmers had the knowledge of farmers help line. But none of them
have utilized the services of farmers helpline. Out of 35 farmers belonging to small scale
farmers category, 13 farmers had the knowledge of farmers help line; only 2 farmers had
utilized services farmers helpline facility. In the semi-medium farmers category out of 20
farmers 4 farmers had the knowledge of farmers helpline facility and 3 farmers had availed
the facility. In the medium- scale farmers category 6 farmers have committed suicide only 1
farmer has availed helpline facility. In the large-scale farmers category out of 2 farmers 1
farmer had the knowledge of farmers helpline facility and he has availed the facility
farmers helpline.
4.2

NON-GOVERNMENTAL MEASURES

4.2.1 Many Non-Governmental Organizations are working both at the national and
state level for the cause of farming community.
India grapples with infectious diseases, malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality
and other major health problems and hence, suicide is accorded low priority in the
competition for meager resources. The mental health services are inadequate for the needs of
the country. For a population of over a billion, there are only about 3,500 psychiatrists. Rapid
urbanization, industrialization and emerging family systems are resulting in social upheaval
and distress. The diminishing traditional support systems leave people vulnerable to suicidal
behavior. Hence, there is an emerging need for external emotional support. The enormity of
the problem combined with the paucity of mental health service has led to the emergence of
NGOs in the field of suicide prevention.
The primary aim of these NGOs is to provide support to suicidal individuals by
befriending them. Often these centers function as an entry point for those needing

81

professional services. Apart from befriending suicidal individuals, the NGOs have also
undertaken education of gatekeepers, raising awareness in the public and media and some
intervention programmes. However, there are certain limitations in the activities of the
NGOs. There is a wide variability in the expertise of their volunteers and in the services they
provide. Quality control measures are inadequate and the majority of their endeavors are not
evaluated.
1. South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) an
NGO established in 1995 at Bangalore which works for protection, promotion and
defence of human rights in India. The objective of this NGO is making human rights
a household concept. This organization had studied on farmers suicide in Karnataka
State in 2003. The cell was of the opinion that Farmers suicides in Karnataka are
ultimately to be seen as the violation of economic rights leading to the absolute
violation of very right to life. The NGO urged National Human Rights Commission
to set up panel to investigate the increasing number of suicides by farmers in the
Karnataka State. (Anonymous 2003).
2. The National Human Rights Commission in its 2004-05 Annual Report on the
suicide by the farmers in Karnataka under Case File No. 180/10/2003-2004(FC)(LF
No.213/10/2003-2004) on the bases of complaints by some representatives of the
people the Commission considered the matter and got it investigated by its Special
Rapporteur. The Special Rapporteur, NHRC visited the affected areas and submitted
a detailed report dated 10/01/2004 with the following broad recommendation:

82

(a)

In all cases of Suicide deaths, the debts incurred with public institutions like
cooperatives and banks should be ordered to be cancelled, after a through
verification;

(b)

Payment of ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakhs to the affected families. In addition,

depending on the debts incurred by the victim, a further amount not exceeding
Rs 1 lakh to be provided to each family towards settlement of the debts with
the assistance of the village community, so as to end the entire trauma being
experienced by these families.

(c)

A complete scrutiny of the functioning of the Public Distribution System

(PDS) in Karnataka a by the Development Officer including the
implementation of PDS at district and village level;

(d)

A credible rural employment programme based on productive public works

with a guarantee of at least 100 to 120 days of employment with guaranteed
minimum wages;

(e)

The programme of providing 5kg. of rice as take home ration should be

restarted by the Karnataka Government and nutrition programmes must also
be strengthened (Anonymous 2005)

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) an NGO established in the

year 1988 under the chairmanship of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan himself in consequent to
the advice of the Nobel Laureate late Dr. C. V. Raman. The research foundation was
established with the objectives to work on the coastal Systems Research,
Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Ecotechnology and Food security, Gender and
Development, and Informatics. The MSSRF initiated some programmes in May 2006

83

to help alleviate the farmers families in distress in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra

State for Educational Support of Children and Livelihood and Rehabilitation of
widows (http://www.mssrf.org).
4

NGO named Ryot Jagruti Vedike ( Farmers Awareness Forum ) was established in
2003 at Bijapur with the objectives of creating awareness among farmers about the
general agrarian crisis and try to find out possible ways to overcome the problem by
arranging lectures, seminars, distributing pamphlets instilling confidence among
farmers not to commit suicide, appealing the private money lenders not harass the
loanee-farmers, arranging Jatha or Rallies on special occasions to express solidarity
among farming community in distress (http://etd.uasd.edu/ft/th8633.pdf).

Raita Teerpu (the Farmers Verdict) is a unique social experiment and the first of its
kind in India and probably in the world aimed at democratizing the governance of
agricultural research. This is an initiative of the Alliance for Democratising
Agricultural Research in South Asia ( ADARSA), supported by International Institute
for Environment and Development (IIED) in UK, Deccan Development Society
(DDS), Hyderabad, Centre for Agricultural Media (CAM), Dharwad; Institution for
Cultural and Action ( ICRA), Bangalore; and Chipko of Karnataka. In this process
the farmers of weaker section especially the women from different parts of Karnataka
are brought on a single plat form to assess the benefits of ongoing Agricultural
Research in India. This is done in view of the crises that have cropped up in
agriculture sector in our country. The increase in farmer suicides, agri-sector debts,
and massive acquisition of farming land for industrial purposes, and threats related to
new technologies have been central to the shape and dimension to the problem. The

84

policy makers in the country are trying to evolve solutions in the form of
consolidation of small and marginal farms. Introduction of contract farming, and
intensified role of the market.
The packages announced to overcome the crises have failed and the farmers
suicides continued unabated. Major contributor to the crises is the focus of
agricultural research which is gradually moving away from farmers concerns and is
embracing agribusiness as the solution (http://www.iied.org).
6.

Karnataka Grameen Seva Pratisthan, Dharwad. This is a registered nongovernmental organization based in Hubli taluk and involved in rural development
activities from 2002. Its mission involves empowerment of vulnerable and poor
people, especially the landless, marginal and small farmers. They are giving priority
to women through organization various training and workshops for women SHGs.
Presently they have formed 63 SHGs in their area of work
(http://www.nabfins.org/bc).
The Karnataka Rajya Raith Sangha a state level Association of farmers mainly

7.

attends to the problems and rights of the farmers. The Raitha Rangha has its branches
in all the villages.
8. The Yuvak Sanghas (Youth Clubs) in the villages attend to the problems of the
farmers along the Raitha Sangha.
9. Apart from the above organizations some more nongovernmental organizations like
Samajik Parivartana Samudaya Vigil India Movement, Samaj Parivartan
Janandolana Mata Amritmayi Trust and other organizations in one way or the
other are working for cause of the farming community.

85

4.3

IMPACT OF GOVERNMENTAL AND NON GOVERNMENTAL MEASRES

The Government of India and the Government of Karnataka have announced

packages from time to time to mitigate the sufferings of farmers. The state wise statistics of
the suicides has been given in table 1.1 from the year 2000-01 to 2009-10. The year wise
statistics on farmers suicides from 2003 04 -2009-10 has been given in table 2.1. The
available data points out that there is a declining trend of farmers suicides in Karnataka from
the years 2001-02 to 2009-10, still then measures taken by the governments have not totally
stopped the suicides among the farmers in Karnataka. Similarly, in Dharwad district by and
large the rate of suicides by farmers from 2003- 04 to 2009-10 shows the declining trend, but
the measures the union and the State Governments and the NGOs have taken have failed to
stop the suicide among farmers. It is surprised to see that despite the measures by the
Government suicide among farmers of Dharwad district has gone up in 2007-08 the
comparing to immediate two previous years.
4.2.2

RELIEF MEASURES BY THE COMMUNITY

After the death of the bread earner members of the family become victims. They need

support in every respect. In such a situation the local leaders, the Yuvaka Sanghas, the Raita
Sangha, elderly persons of the locality and local Panchayat members come to the rescue of
family members of the victims to carry out the immediate tasks. As the victims family is
mainly dependent on agriculture the local community leaders help in the purchase of
different requirement to the victims family.

86

Table 4.2.2.1: Community intervention in solving agriculture related problems

Problem Solved
Purchase of Agriculture Implements
Size-class of land

Yes

No

Total

Marginal Scale (0-2.5acrs)

12

12

Small- Scale (2.5-5 acres)

33

35

Semi-medium Scale (5-10 acres)

19

20

Medium Scale (10-20 acres)

Large Scale (20+ acres )

Total

71

75

Number of Suicide Cases

Figure 4.2.2.1: Community intervention in solving agriculture related problems

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Yes
No

Marginal
Scale (02.5acrs)

Small- Scale
Semi(2.5-5
medium
acres)
Scale (5-10
acres)

Medium Large Scale

Scale (10- (20+ acres )
20 acres)

Size-class of land

Table 4.2.2.1 points out about the community intervention in solving agriculture
related problems. In this table the details of the help rendered by the community to the family
of the farm victims especially in the purchase of agriculture implements are given. According
to the details available in the present table three categories of farm victims small, medium,
semi-medium families have taken help of community in solving the problems relating to
agriculture. In the small scale category 2 families out of 35 farm victims families are the
87

beneficiaries due to community intervention. In the semi-medium category only one family
availed the help rendered by the community. In the medium scale farmers family also only
one family of farm victim is the beneficiary of the help rendered by community. None of the
families in the largescale farm victims family are the beneficiaries due to community
intervention. Similarly, in the marginal scale also out of the 12 farm victims family no
family has availed the help of community.
Table 4.2.2.2: Community intervention in solving the water sharing problem of victims
family
Problem Solved
Water sharing Problem
Size-class of land

Yes

No

Total

Marginal Scale (0-2.5acrs)

12

12

Small- Scale (2.5-5 acres)

33

35

Semi-medium Scale (5-10 acres)

18

20

Medium Scale (10-20 acres)

Large (20+ acres )

69

75

Total

Figure 4.2.2.2: Community intervention in solving the water sharing problem of victims

Number of Suicide Cases

family.
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Yes
No

Marginal
Scale (02.5acrs)

Small- Scale Semi-medium

Medium
(2.5-5 acres) Scale (5-10 Scale (10-20
acres)
acres)
Size-class of land

88

Large (20+
acres )

The problem of sharing of water with neighbours for agriculture purpose is solved
with the intervention of the community. The detail of the help rendered is given in table
4.2.2.2 the intervention of the community was done in three categories of the farm victims
namely small, medium, semi-medium farm families. In the small-scale-farmers category the
water sharing problem is attended in 2 families of the farm victims out of 35 families of the
farm victims. In the semi-medium- farmers category out of the 20 farm victims families
only two families have availed the help rendered by the community. In the medium scale of
farmers two families of farm victim are the beneficiaries of community intervention out of
the 6 families in the category. None of the members victims family of large scale farmers
have taken the help of the community.
The relief measures taken by the Union and the State Government, various Non
Governmental Organizations are able to bring down the suicides among the farmers in
Karnataka to some extent except few districts, one such district is Dharwad. The registered
suicides among the farmers of Dharwad district are 75 and the compensation paid to the next
of the kin of the victims 21. Compensation was denied in 54 cases by the reviewing
committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner in the district. This shows that 54 cases of
farmers suicides were not considered to be the fit cases to pay the compensation; which only
means that the farmers suicides were not due to adverse agricultural factors. Some natural
deaths and deaths due to other factors were projected as the deaths due to adverse agricultural
factors to claim the compensation from the Government.

89