Marathwada Farmers' Crisis: 899 Suicides in 10 Months Amid Floods and Unseasonal Rain
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The Marathwada region of Maharashtra has been reeling under a severe crisis, with 899 farmers committing suicide between January and October this year. Official data reveals that the devastating floods and unseasonal rains have taken a toll on the region, with 537 farmer suicides occurring in just six months. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisional commissioner's office reported that Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts have recorded the highest number of farmer suicides. According to district-wise data, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar saw 112 suicides, while Jalna recorded 32, Parbhani had 45, Hingoli reported 33, Nanded had 90, Beed saw 108, Latur had 47, and Dharashiv reported 70. To alleviate the suffering of affected farmers, the state government has announced a package of nearly ₹32,000 crore as compensation. However, farmer leader and former MP Raju Shetti expressed deep concern over the meager compensation received by farmers for crop damage. He alleged that the government's response has been inadequate, leaving many farmers disillusioned. Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal countered that the government is committed to addressing the issue, with a dedicated budget of ₹1 lakh crore for farmers' schemes and incentives. He emphasized the need for long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of natural calamities like the ones seen in Marathwada. Experts have also called for a strategic, long-term disaster management plan to address the crisis. Vinayak Hegana, founder of Shivar Helpline, a farmer support organisation, urged the government to establish a dedicated task force to address farmers' issues on an immediate, localised basis. He stressed the need to redefine disaster management parameters and establish new frameworks to tackle the challenges faced by farmers in Marathwada.
