Question : SUICIDE BY FARMERS

(a) whether the Government has announced recently an ex-gratia payment of Rs.50,000/- and promised job to the families of farmers of Andhra Pradesh who committed suicide since July 1998;

(b) if so, the Government proposes to extend similar benefits to the families of all farmers in the country who committed suicide in various States during the period;

(c) whether the Government proposes to conduct a survey to know the number of such affected families in other States; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a) The Prime Minister has announced an assistance of Rs.50,000 from the Prime Ministers` Relief Fund to each of the families affected by cases of suicide by farmers in recent months in Andhra Pradesh. The State Government has been directed to work in close collaboration with the banks to provide a source of livelihood to one person in each affected family, which has lost its breadwinner.

(b)to(d): No such proposal is under consideration.