Question : SUICIDE BY FARMERS

(a) the details of relief provided or proposed to be provided to the farmers in the suicide prone districts of the country under the special rehabilitation package, State-wise;

(b) whether the incidents of suicide by farmers have continued despite the declaration of the relief package;

(c) if so, the details of such cases reported, State-wise;

(d) whether any study to assess the reasons for the same has been conducted;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government proposes to constitute a National Commission study group to make a comprehensive study on the problems of farmers and suggest measures for their redressal; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.65 DUE FOR REPLY ON 27TH NOVEMBER, 2006.


(a): The Government of India has recently approved a rehabilitation package for mitigating distress of farmers in 31 suicide prone Districts in the four States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. The package aims at establishing a sustainable and viable farming and livelihood support system through debt relief to farmers, improved supply of institutional credit, crop centric approach to agriculture, assured irrigation facilities, watershed management, better extension and farming support services, and subsidiary income opportunities through horticulture, livestock, dairying, fisheries, etc. The Package involves a total amount of Rs.16978.69 crore. The State-wise break-up is as under:

Andhra Pradesh	-	Rs.9650.55 crore	Karnataka	-	Rs.2689.64 crore	Kerala	-	Rs.765.24 crore	Maharashtra	-	Rs.3873.26 crore