The National Crime Record’s Bureau (NCRB) recently released a report on accidental deaths and suicides. The report confirmed the suicide of 11,379 farmers in India in 2016.
Report’s Statistics
The report concluded that out of total farmer suicidal deaths, 5109 (633 female) are agricultural laborers. Women account for 8.9% of the total suicides. This makes 948 suicides per month and 31 per day. There is an overall decrease of 21% in farmer suicide rate whereas a 10% increase in farm labourers suicide. As per the data, the number of farmer suicidal deaths dropped consecutively for three years. It was 12,360 in 2014 and 12,602 in 2015. According to data, there is a decrease of 981 deaths.
Maharashtra recorded highest list in farmers suicide in India contributing 40% to the total deaths. Farmer suicides in Maharashtra have doubled in the past 4 years. In 2016, 3661 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra. It was 4291 in 2015 and 4004 in 2014. Karnataka followed this with 2079 farmer suicides, affirming an increasing trend in the number of deaths. Madhya Pradesh stood third with 1321 suicides. In addition, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh made to the top five with 804 and 682 farmer suicides.
West Bengal and Bihar did not provide any data on the farmers’ suicides in 2016. Moreover, these states reported zero farmer suicides in 2015. Adding to this list, Nagaland, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Delhi and Lakshadweep also reported zero agriculture-related suicides.
There were no reasons for the suicides included in the report of 2016. However, in 2015, crop failure, failure to pay debts, family problems, illness, and high-interest loans contributed to farmers suicides.
Opposition Acquisitions
On the released report, Priyanka Gandhi tweeted accusing the BJP government of not taking action for the increasing number of farmer suicides. The party alleged the government for not giving the right price to the farmers which causes distress among, resulting in suicides.
All the NCRB reports since 1995 concludes that 3,33,407 farmers have died by suicide in India till 2016.