Farmers’ suicides: ‘No panic’ yet, package awaits Plan panel nod

The ‘‘no alarm’’ premise is based on suicide figures collated by the National Crime Bureau. According to the figures from 1995 to 2003, the suicides by farmers constitute 15-16 per cent of suicides in the country. The view is that if 60 per cent of the rural population accounts for 15 per cent of the suicides, it is not something to panic about.

This logic might be debatable, but forms the basis for the package, which is centered around long-term measures like bringing more area under irrigation, watershed management, support for subsidiary income through dairying, poultry, horticulture, complete insurance cover and improved extension services. In some cases, there is a provision for increased allotment from existing Government programmes. All these will take some time to come.

Indebtedness has been recognised as the single largest reason behind suicides. The package, for now, does not have anything concrete on this, as the Government is waiting for the Vaidyanathan Committee to submit its recommendations.

Even the most optimistic in the ministry believe that the Planning Commission may not stick to the wishlist provided by it.

State governments have already announced debt re-structuring for short-term loans. The package has asked state governments to signs MoU with NABARD to revive the sick cooperatives. Measure to beef up investment credit will have to wait.

The entire package would be monitored by the national level committee, the state level committee will perform coordination and supervision. The implementation will be through district-level committees and panchayats.