Lok Sabha Question No. 1550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: National Policy for Farmers Suicide
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, R. PARTHIPAN, SULTAN  AHMED, DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1550

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  25 TH  JULY, 2017

## NATIONAL POLICY FOR FARMERS SUICIDE

1550.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान

कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether suicide cases of farmers are increasing in an alarming way in Jharkhand and Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  farmers  are  the  most  distressed  group  in  the  country  as  their  suicide rates are higher than that of others as per analysis done by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and if so, the details thereof ;
- (c) whether economic  distress  is  a  much  bigger  cause  of  farmer  suicides  in  most States and if so, the details thereof and steps taken by the Government in this direction;
- (d) whether the  Supreme Court  has  interfered  in  the  matter  of  suicide  by  farmers recently and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto; and
- (e) whether  the  Supreme  Court  has  suggested  the  Government  to  bring  out  a concrete national policy to tackle farmers suicides and evolve reasons for their suicides and for proper protection of their crops from natural calamities and holistic approach for their well-being, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs  compiles  and  disseminates  information  on  suicides,  in  its  publication  titled 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India' (ADSI). These Reports on suicides upto 2015

are  available  at  its  website.  The  Report  for  the  years  2016  onwards  have  not  been published yet.

Contd…2/-

-2-

As  per  NCRB  reports  the  number  of  suicides  by  farmers  in  Jharkhand  and Maharashtra  are 18 and 3146 in 2013, 4 (0 farmers and 4 labourers) and  4004 (2528 farmers and 1436 labourers) in 2014 and  21(0 farmers and 21 labourers) and  4291 (3030 farmers and  1261 labourers) in 2015 respectively.

As  per  NCRB  reports  the  total  number  of  suicides  are  134799,  131666  and 133623 and the number of   suicide by farmers are 11772, 12360 and 12602 during the years,  2013,2014  and  2015  respectively.    Share  percentage  of    number  of    farmers suicides to  the number of farmers suicides is  8.7% in 2013 and 9.4 % in 2014 and 2015.

As  per  Report  of  2015  'Bankruptcy  or  Indebtedness'  and  'Farming  Related Issues'  are  reported  as  major  causes  of  suicides  among  farmers/  cultivators.  Other prominent causes of farmers/ cultivators suicides are family problems, illness, etc.

(d) & (e): In the case of Citizens Resource and Action Initiative (CRANTI) Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors., the Supreme Court in its order dated 6 th July, 2017 has stated that an issue like this cannot be dealt with overnight, and it is justified for the learned Attorney General to seek time to work out the schemes appropriately. Further, Supreme Court has stated that it will be for the union government to determine whether and if so what, course should be adopted for this purpose.

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