Lok Sabha Question No. 1921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Assessment or Survey regarding Farmers’ Suicides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1921

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## ASSESSMENT OR SURVEY REGARDING FARMERS' SUICIDES

1921. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  assessment  or  survey  to  study  and understand the farmers' suicides in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the steps taken/being taken to provide assistance to distressed farmers;
- (d) the  total  amount  disbursed  as  compensation  to  the  families  of  victims  from  the financial years 2015 to 2020;
- (e) whether the Government is aware that the process of claiming compensation for the victims' families is challenging; and
- (f) the steps taken to facilitate the process of giving compensation to the families of the victims?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Taking cognizance of the problem of Agrarian distress and consequent farmers suicide  in  the  country,  Government  had  undertaken  a  study  'Farmers  Suicide  in  India: Causes and Policy Prescription' as an all India coordinated study in the work plan 2016-17 through the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. The study covered 13  states  of  the  country  which  included  Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Telangana,  Andhra Pradesh,  Tamil  Nadu,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Punjab,  Haryana,  Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The study concluded that frequent crop failure due to vagaries of monsoon, absence of assured water resources and attack of pest and diseases are the most important causes of farmers' distress. The study had made inter-alia following suggestions to address the above problems:

- (a) Bringing individual farmers under the ambit of crop insurance;
- (b) Judicious use of available water is required;
- (c) Government  intervention  through  MSP  covering  cost  of  production  plus  reasonable profit margin;
- (d) Risk  hedging  through  crop  and  enterprise  diversification  should  be  encouraged  to reduce farmers' distress aiming at sustainable income; and
- (e) Regulate informal credit market.

The  Government  has  launched  various  schemes  with  respect  to  above  suggested recommendations  namely;  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojna  (PMFBY),  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY), Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi  Crops,  Har  Med  Par  Ped,  Bee-Keeping,  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission,  Blue  Revolution, Interest Subvention Scheme, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), etc.

(c) to (f): A  few  State  Governments  provide  relief  to  families  of  farmers  who  commit suicide  and  as  per  the  information  available,  relief  measures  inter-alia  includes;  ex-gratia relief  to  the  heirs  of  the  deceased  farmer,  one  time  settlement  to  wipe  off  loans/  liabilities towards  rehabilitation  of  the  family  members;  and  relief  provided  to  the  children  of  the deceased to get free education.

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