Question : National Policy for Farmers Suicide

(a) whether suicide cases of farmers are increasing in an alarming way in Jharkhand and Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether farmers are the most distressed group in the country as their suicide rates are higher than that of others as per analysis done by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and if so, the details thereof ;

(c) whether economic distress is a much bigger cause of farmer suicides in most States and if so, the details thereof and steps taken by the Government in this direction;

(d) whether the Supreme Court has interfered in the matter of suicide by farmers recently and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto; and

(e) whether the Supreme Court has suggested the Government to bring out a concrete national policy to tackle farmers suicides and evolve reasons for their suicides and for proper protection of their crops from natural calamities and holistic approach for their well-being, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (c): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs compiles and disseminates information on suicides, in its publication titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ (ADSI). These Reports on suicides upto 2015 are available at its website. The Report for the years 2016 onwards have not been published yet.

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As per NCRB reports the number of suicides by farmers in Jharkhand and Maharashtra are 18 and 3146 in 2013, 4 (0 farmers and 4 labourers) and 4004 (2528 farmers and 1436 labourers) in 2014 and 21(0 farmers and 21 labourers) and 4291 (3030 farmers and 1261 labourers) in 2015 respectively.

As per NCRB reports the total number of suicides are 134799, 131666 and 133623 and the number of suicide by farmers are 11772, 12360 and 12602 during the years, 2013,2014 and 2015 respectively. Share percentage of number of farmers suicides to the number of farmers suicides is 8.7% in 2013 and 9.4 % in 2014 and 2015.

As per Report of 2015 ‘Bankruptcy or Indebtedness’ and ‘Farming Related Issues’ are reported as major causes of suicides among farmers/ cultivators. Other prominent causes of farmers/ cultivators suicides are family problems, illness, etc.

(d) & (e): In the case of Citizens Resource and Action Initiative (CRANTI) Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors., the Supreme Court in its order dated 6th July, 2017 has stated that an issue like this cannot be dealt with overnight, and it is justified for the learned Attorney General to seek time to work out the schemes appropriately. Further, Supreme Court has stated that it will be for the union government to determine whether and if so what, course should be adopted for this purpose.






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