3 min readThiruvananthapuramUpdated: Nov 11, 2023 07:20 PM IST
K G Prasad (55), from Thakazhy, part of the Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district, died early on Saturday after having allegedly consumed poison on Friday night.(Representational image/Pixabay)
Blaming state govt for leaving him in debt, Kerala farmer dies by suicide
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A paddy farmer in Kerala’s Kuttanad region, known as the ‘rice bowl’ of the state, died by suicide on Saturday and left a note blaming the state government for leaving him in debt.
K G Prasad (55), from Thakazhy, part of the Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district, died early on Saturday after having allegedly consumed poison on Friday night. He was the district president of the Kisan Sangh, a farmers’ body linked to the RSS.
Police recovered his “suicide note”, in which he said banks were denying him loans citing a pending “PRS loan”, which the government had not paid off.
A paddy receipt sheet, or PRS, is issued to farmers after the state government agency, Supplyco, procures paddy from them. Farmers can then use the PRS to avail bank loans equivalent to the price of the procured paddy. The state government is then supposed to pay the bank and close the loan.
“Now banks are denying me loans on the grounds that I have a PRS loan. I had availed a PRS loan towards the cost of the paddy I had supplied to the government. The government is responsible for repaying the PRS loan along with the interest. Hence, the government is responsible for my death,” the suspected suicide note said.
Before his death, Prasad had also sent a voice message to a friend, in which he blamed the government for not repaying the loan, and said: “I have lost. I am a failed farmer. Now I am a farmer with debt.”
Kerala Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil told reporters in New Delhi that he would comment on the issue after looking into the matter.
The incident has caused a political storm in Kerala.
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Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, alleged that the state government failed in paddy procurement and that payments for farmers have been due for months.
“Even in his suicide note, Prasad registered his protest against the government,” the Congress leader said, and warned that there would be more such cases in the state if authorities don’t change their approach.
After visiting a hospital in Thiruvalla, where the mortal remains of the farmer were kept, BJP state chief K Surendran accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of being responsible for Prasad’s death.
“The state government’s anti-farmer policies were the reason for his suicide,” he alleged.
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Governor Arif Muhammed Khan also visited the Thiruvalla hospital. He said he would take up farmers’ issues with the state and central governments.
Earlier in the day, he had criticised the state government, saying, “They are spending money on celebrations. If the poor farmer… is not the priority of the government, what can I say? The people of the state will take notice of it.”
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
