Amravati, As many as 557 farmers have committed suicide in five districts under Amravati administrative division of Maharashtra between January and June this year, according to an official report.
The five districts of the division are Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal.
A report prepared by the Amravati divisional commissioner said that a total of 557 farmers committed suicide in the division from January to June 2024. Of them, the highest number of suicides, 170, were recorded in Amravati district, followed of 150 in Yavatmal, 111 in Buldhana. , 92 in Akola and 34 in Washim.
The government has provided assistance to the families of the deceased in 53 cases, while 284 cases are pending investigation, according to the report.
Reacting to the figures mentioned in the report, Congress leader Balwant Wankhade, who represents the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, said that Maharashtra is one of the states which records the highest number of farmer suicides and Amravati leads the state in this count.
"Crop failures, lack of adequate rainfall, existing debt burden and absence of timely farm loans are some of the major reasons driving farmers to take extreme measures...The government must fulfill its promises of double farmers' income and provide assistance to them," he said.
State government's Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavlambi Mission president Nilesh Helonde-Patil said farmer suicide was a serious problem and efforts were being made to find a solution to stop such deaths.
"The local administration is reaching out to farmers at the gram panchayat level with various government schemes to help them increase their income, and also in the education of their children and medical cost of family members. The government supports them. The Mission Shetkari Swavlambi also facilitates communication between farmers and insurance companies,” he said.
"Farmer suicide is a serious issue and the mission is working to find solutions to curb such deaths," he added.
The five districts of the division are Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal.
A report prepared by the Amravati divisional commissioner said that a total of 557 farmers committed suicide in the division from January to June 2024. Of them, the highest number of suicides, 170, were recorded in Amravati district, followed of 150 in Yavatmal, 111 in Buldhana. , 92 in Akola and 34 in Washim.
The government has provided assistance to the families of the deceased in 53 cases, while 284 cases are pending investigation, according to the report.
Reacting to the figures mentioned in the report, Congress leader Balwant Wankhade, who represents the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, said that Maharashtra is one of the states which records the highest number of farmer suicides and Amravati leads the state in this count.
"Crop failures, lack of adequate rainfall, existing debt burden and absence of timely farm loans are some of the major reasons driving farmers to take extreme measures...The government must fulfill its promises of double farmers' income and provide assistance to them," he said.
State government's Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavlambi Mission president Nilesh Helonde-Patil said farmer suicide was a serious problem and efforts were being made to find a solution to stop such deaths.
"The local administration is reaching out to farmers at the gram panchayat level with various government schemes to help them increase their income, and also in the education of their children and medical cost of family members. The government supports them. The Mission Shetkari Swavlambi also facilitates communication between farmers and insurance companies,” he said.
"Farmer suicide is a serious issue and the mission is working to find solutions to curb such deaths," he added.
