Lok Sabha Question No. 4111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Suicide by Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: TARIQ ANWAR, PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE, KAMAL NATH, DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, M. UDHAYAKUMAR, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, VINOD KUMAR SONKAR, LAKHAN LAL SAHU, ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

O.I.H.

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4111

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  20 TH  MARCH, 2018

## SUICIDE BY FARMERS

## 4111.  SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

DR. P.K. BIJU:

SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

SHRI KAMAL NATH:

SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

SHRI SUNIL JAKHAR:

ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU:

SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  a  number  of  farmers/cultivators  and  agricultural  labourers  and  their spouse/family members have committed suicide in the country since 2013 and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  to  identify  the  reasons responsible for farmers' suicides in the country and if so, the details and the findings thereof;
- (c) whether  a  NITI  Aayog  consultation  paper  has  revealed  that  more  than  70% farmers and more than 12% farmers in severe cases of depression often commit suicide and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the Government has constituted any monitoring committee in each State to check suicide by farmers and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  called  a  two  day  national  conference  to  discuss farm distress and find a permanent solution to it and if so, the details thereof along with the  deliberations  made  in  the  conference  and  the  suggestions  put  forward  by  the participants to address the farm distress; and
- (f) the  details  of  measures  taken/schemes  launched  to  solve  the  farmers  distress and prevent the farmers including those farmers who have small agricultural holdings from committing suicide and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

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

(  SHRI

(a) & (b): 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  are available upto 2015 on its website. The Reports for the  year 2016 onwards have not been published yet. As per the ADSI Reports for the year 2015 and provisional data as provided  by  NCRB  for  the  year  2016,  the  total  number  of  suicides  by  farmers  and agricultural labourers in the country State-wise, 2013 onward is Annexed.

As  per  NCRB  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.  'Family  Problems'  followed  by  'Illness'  are  reported  as  major  causes  of  suicides among agricultural labourers.

- (c): No, Madam.

(d): A guideline has been issued to State Governments/ UTs to provide institutional mechanism  for  strengthening  the  policy  &  advisory  support  and  review  &  monitoring support for growth of agriculture sector and welfare of farmers. The State Governments/ UTs have been advised to constitute District level review & monitoring committee and state level review & advisory committee to achieve welfare of farmers.

The  Committee  would  also  closely  monitor  the  developing  field  situation  and enable  prior  detection  of  indigence  and  suicidal  tendencies  amongst  farmers  and respond with alacrity and needed sharpness to prevent such an eventuality.

(e): A National  Conference on 'Agriculture-2022  -  Doubling  Farmers'  Income'  was organized on 19 th -20 th February, 2018 at National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi in which participants  comprising farmers, farmers' associations, scientists, economists, academics, trade and professional associations, policy makers and officers serving and retired from Central as well as State Governments participated.   The main concern during the conference was to build a consensus around appropriate recommendations that will align with the vision  of  doubling of farmers' income by the year 2022 and to arrive at practical solutions for the benefit of farmers in the country. Some  of  the  suggestions  received  during  the  conference  are  converting  Waste  to Wealth  in  mission  mode,  promote  post-harvest  infrastructure  including  cold  chain, contract farming to be promoted and incentivized, widespread implementation of OneNation  One-Market,  upgrade  22000  rural  haats  into  Gramin  Agricultural  Markets (GrAMs),  encourage  Farmer  Producers  Organizations,  notify  agroforestry  produce including  timber/  bamboo  as  agri-produce,    model  State/UT  Agricultural  Produce  and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017 to be adopted in true spirit, etc. The  outcomes  arising  from  the  conference  and  the  suggestions  received  would  be defined and aligned with the strategy for doubling farmers income by the year 2022.

(f): Agrarian  distress  as  manifest  from  large  number  of  farmers  living  below  the poverty (BPL) line and unfortunate incidents of suicides can be addressed by enabling the  farmers  to  increase  their  income.    Agriculture  is  state  subject.  However,  the Government  is  aiming  to  reorient  the  agriculture  sector  by  focusing  on  an  incomecenteredness in  addition to  pure production  centeredness  approach. The Department has, therefore, been implementing various schemes for farmers including those farmers who have small agricultural holdings.

In order to discourage distress sale by farmers and to encourage them to store their  produce  in  warehouses  against  warehouse  receipts,  the  benefit  of  interest subvention  scheme  has  been  extended  to  small  and  marginal  farmers  having  Kisan Credit Card for a further period of upto six months post the harvest at the same rate as available to crop loan against negotiable warehouse receipt in Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) accredited warehouses.

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic growth of the horticulture sector subsidy is provided to farm size limited to 4 hectare, in majority  of  its  interventions.  Also,  small  and  marginal  farmers  are  mobilized  to  form Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)/ Farmer Interest Group (FIG) for  aggregation and economies of scale. In certain components like cultivation of flowers in open fields, there is a provision to provide higher rate of assistance for small and marginal farmers for their upliftment.

Under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  at  least  33%  of  funds  are earmarked  for  small  and  marginal  farmers.  Under  the  Sub  Mission  on  Agricultural Mechanization  (SMAM)  a  suitable  platform  has  been  provided  for  converging  all activities  for  inclusive  growth  of  agricultural  mechanization  by  providing  a  'single window' approach for implementation, with a special focus on small & marginal farmers. Under the Per Drop More Crop (micro irrigation) at least 50% of the allocation is to be utilized for small & marginal farmers.

Joint  Liability  Groups  an  informal  group  comprising  4  to  10  farmers  coming together  for  the  purpose  of  availing  bank  loan  on  individual  basis  or  through  group mechanism  against  mutual  guarantee  also  exists.  The  Scheme  for  financing  of  Joint Liability  Groups  of  Tenant  Farmers  was  started  by  NABARD  in  2005-06.    The announcement in the Union Budget 2014-15 for financing of 5 lakh Joint Liability Groups of  'Bhoomi  Heen  Kisan'  (landless  farmers)  has  given  further  credence  to  efforts  of NABARD in innovating and reaching out to the landless farmers through JLG scheme of financing.

## Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4111  due for 20.03.2018 Statement in respect  of Part (a) of the Question  regarding 'Suicide by farmers'

State/UT wise number of Suicides by Self Employed persons in Farming/Agriculture during 2014-2016 (year 2016 data is provisional)

|          |                   | 2013    | 2014                                                        | 2014                                                         | 2014                                           | 2015                                               | 2015                    | 2015                  | 2016                                               | *                        | 2016                 |
|----------|-------------------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------|
| Sl. N o. | State / UT        |         | Self-employed Persons [Agriculture (Total)] Sum of Col. 2+3 | Self-employed Persons [Agriculture (Agricultural Labourers)] | Self- employed Persons [Agriculture (Farmers)] | Suicides in Farming Sector (Total) Sum of Col. 5+6 | Agricultura l Labourers | Farmers/ Cultivato rs | Suicides in Farming Sector (Total) Sum of Col. 8+9 | Agricultur al Labourer s | Farmers/ Cultivators |
|          |                   |         | 1                                                           | 2                                                            | 3                                              | 4                                                  | 5                       | 6                     | 7                                                  | 8                        | 9                    |
| 1        | ANDHRA PRADESH    | 2014    | 632                                                         | 472                                                          | 160                                            | 916                                                | 400                     | 516                   | 804                                                | 565                      | 239                  |
| 2        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 37      | 3                                                           | 3                                                            | 0                                              | 10                                                 | 3                       | 3                     | 6                                                  | 0                        | 6                    |
| 3        | ASSAM             | 305     | 59                                                          | 38                                                           | 21                                             | 138                                                | 54                      | 84                    | 70                                                 | 64                       | 6                    |
| 4        | BIHAR             | 127     | 10                                                          | 10                                                           | 0                                              | 7                                                  | 7                       | 0                     | 0                                                  | 0                        | 0                    |
| 5        | CHHATTISGARH      | 0       | 755                                                         | 312                                                          | 443                                            | 954                                                | 100                     | 854                   | 682                                                | 97                       | 585                  |
| 6        | GOA               | 1       | 0                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                              | 0                                                  | 0                       | 0                     | 1                                                  | 1                        | 0                    |
| 7        | GUJARAT           | 582     | 600                                                         | 555                                                          | 45                                             | 301                                                | 244                     | 57                    | 408                                                | 378                      | 30                   |
| 8        | HARYANA           | 374     | 119                                                         | 105                                                          | 14                                             | 162                                                | 134                     | 28                    | 250                                                | 159                      | 91                   |
| 9        | HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 33      | 63                                                          | 31                                                           | 32                                             | 46                                                 | 46                      | 0                     | 14                                                 | 14                       | 0                    |
| 10       | JAMMU & KASHMIR   | 18      | 37                                                          | 25                                                           | 12                                             | 21                                                 | 21                      | 0                     | 21                                                 | 21                       | 0                    |
| 11       | JHARKHAND         | 142     | 4                                                           | 4                                                            | 0                                              | 21                                                 | 21                      | 0                     | 3                                                  | 0                        | 3                    |
| 12       | KARNATAKA         | 1403    | 768                                                         | 447                                                          | 321                                            | 1569                                               | 372                     | 1197                  | 2079                                               | 867                      | 1212                 |
| 13       | KERALA            | 972     | 807                                                         | 700                                                          | 107                                            | 210                                                | 207                     | 3                     | 321                                                | 298                      | 23                   |
| 14       | MADHYA PRADESH    | 1090    | 1198                                                        | 372                                                          | 826                                            | 1290                                               | 709                     | 581                   | 1321                                               | 722                      | 599                  |
| 15       | MAHARASHTRA       | 3146    | 4004                                                        | 1436                                                         | 2568                                           | 4291                                               | 1261                    | 3030                  | 3661                                               | 1111                     | 2550                 |
| 16       | MANIPUR           | 1       | 0                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                              | 1                                                  | 0                       | 1                     | 1                                                  | 0                        | 1                    |
| 17       | MEGHALAYA         | 5       | 2                                                           | 2                                                            | 0                                              | 3                                                  | 1                       | 2                     | 5                                                  | 3                        | 2                    |
| 18       | MIZORAM           | 6       | 5                                                           | 5                                                            | 0                                              | 1                                                  | 1                       | 0                     | 7                                                  | 7                        | 0                    |
| 19       | NAGALAND          | 2       | 0                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                              | 0                                                  | 0                       | 0                     | 0                                                  | 0                        | 0                    |
| 20       | ODISHA            | 150     | 102                                                         | 97                                                           | 5                                              | 50                                                 | 27                      | 23                    | 121                                                | 101                      | 20                   |
| 21       | PUNJAB            | 83      | 64                                                          | 40                                                           | 24                                             | 124                                                | 24                      | 100                   | 271                                                | 49                       | 222                  |
| 22       | RAJASTHAN         | 292     | 373                                                         | 373                                                          | 0                                              | 76                                                 | 73                      | 3                     | 43                                                 | 39                       | 4                    |
| 23       | SIKKIM            | 35      | 35                                                          | 0                                                            | 35                                             | 18                                                 | 3                       | 15                    | 14                                                 | 2                        | 12                   |
| 24       | TAMIL NADU        | 105     | 895                                                         | 827                                                          | 68                                             | 606                                                | 604                     | 2                     | 381                                                | 345                      | 36                   |
| 25       | TELANGANA#        | NA      | 1347                                                        | 449                                                          | 898                                            | 1400                                               | 42                      | 1358                  | 645                                                | 13                       | 632                  |
| 26 27    | TRIPURA UTTAR     | 56      | 32                                                          | 32                                                           | 0 63                                           | 49                                                 | 48                      | 1 145                 | 22                                                 | 18                       | 4                    |
|          | PRADESH           | 750     | 192                                                         | 129                                                          |                                                | 324                                                | 179                     |                       | 184                                                | 115                      | 69                   |
| 28       | UTTARAKHAND       | 15      | 0                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                              | 2                                                  | 2                       | 0                     | 3                                                  | 3                        | 0                    |
| 29       | WEST BENGAL       | 0       | 230                                                         | 230                                                          | 0                                              | 0                                                  | 0                       | 0                     | 0                                                  | 0                        | 0                    |
| 30       | A & N ISLANDS     | 11744 5 | 8                                                           | 0                                                            | 8                                              | 0                                                  | 0                       |                       | 3                                                  | 0                        |                      |
|          |                   |         |                                                             |                                                              |                                                |                                                    |                         | 0                     |                                                    |                          | 3                    |
| 31       | CHANDIGARH        | 0       | 0                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                              | 0                                                  | 0                       | 0                     | 0                                                  | 0                        | 0                    |
| 32 33    | D & N HAVELI      | 15      | 0 0                                                         | 0 0                                                          | 0 0                                            | 0 0                                                | 0 0                     | 0 0                   | 0 0                                                | 0 0                      | 0 0                  |
| 34       | DELHI (UT)        | 8       | 0                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                              | 0                                                  | 0                       | 0                     | 0                                                  | 0                        | 0                    |
|          | DAMAN & DIU       | 0       |                                                             |                                                              |                                                |                                                    |                         |                       |                                                    |                          |                      |
| 35       | LAKSHADWEEP       | 0       | 0                                                           | 0                                                            |                                                |                                                    | 0                       | 0                     | 0                                                  | 0                        | 0                    |
| 36       | PUDUCHERRY        | 0       | 16                                                          | 16                                                           | 0 0                                            | 0 12                                               | 12                      | 0                     | 29                                                 | 27                       | 2                    |
|          | Total (UTs)       | 28      | 24                                                          | 16                                                           | 8                                              | 12                                                 | 12                      | 0                     | 32                                                 | 27                       | 5                    |
|          | TOTAL (ALL INDIA) | 11772   | 12360                                                       | 6710                                                         | 5650                                           | 12602                                              | 4595                    | 8007                  | 11370                                              | 5019                     | 6351                 |

Source: 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India' data as received from SCRBx/CID

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# Newly created State from erstwhile Andhra Pradesh