All that matters here is suicide count

In one corner of Kishangarh village, supporters of political parties are busy preparing for the elections...

In one corner of Kishangarh village, supporters of political parties are busy preparing for the elections, just two days away. And in another, an aged couple sit in mourning.

Bhoora Singh and Nachhatar Kaur, whose only son committed suicide a year ago, are indifferent to the elections. They are not alone.

Mounting debts have forced a number of people in Kishangarh, Dialpura and Khadal Kalan villages to commit suicide.

8220;Balbir 30, was our only son. He was sensitive. He had gone to commission agent in Bareta. After returning home, he consumed spray pesticides,8221; says Nachhatar Kaur.

In Dialpura, Tej Kaur has a similar story. Her three sons killed themselves about ten years ago. Two consumed pesticides and the third hung himself. She attributes the suicides to the debt her family is reeling under.

But successive governments have turned a blind eye to the problem. 8220;We continue to reel under debt. The government has not helped us,8221; says Tej Kaur, adding that her family is being pressured to vote for a particular candidate. 8220;Pata nahin, kehri ginti aundi eh,8221; she says when asked about the amount they owe. A relative, Kheera Singh 20, states it to be over Rs 1 lakh.

Bhagwan Kaur, of the same village, lost one son in late 8217;90s. 8220;Krishan her 27-year-old son had consumed pesticide had asked what would happen if they failed to repay an installment. 8220;Vo bole jail bhi ho sake hai, jameen bhi jaa sake hai They said it could lead to imprisonment and even auctioning of land.8221;

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Bhagwan Kaur, at sixty, is still waiting for pension. 8220;I was widowed at the age of 25. Till date I have not received any pension. My pension account was opened, but I am yet to receive any money,8221; she says.

BKU Ekta Ugrahan block president Jugraj Singh said they conducted a survey and found that over ten persons committed suicide in each of the villages of Khadal Kalan, Dialpura, Kishangarh, Khatriwala, Akbarpur Khadial, Rangrial and Tahlian in the past decade.

A representative of the farmers8217; body from Dialpura, Bhola Singh claims over 20 suicides were reported in the past decade from his village alone. He puts the toll at 40, if counted from the late 8217;90s. Kulwant Singh, husband of sarpanch Ranjit Kaur of Kishangarh village and a former sarpanch himself, attributes the suicides to 8220;complications caused by the poor economic condition of people8221;.