Lok Sabha Question No. 425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Suicide by Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU, KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA, ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE, P. KUMAR

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.425

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  26 TH  APRIL, 2016

## SUICIDE BY FARMERS

- 425 SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.: SHRI KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA: DR. A. SAMPATH: ADV. JOICE GEORGE: SHRI P. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that a number of farmers in the country have committed suicide due to crop loss and debt burden in drought affected areas across the country in the recent months;
- ( b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including the number of cases reported during the last three years, year/State/UT-wise along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  help  the  debt-ridden  farmers and put a check on private money lenders in coordination with State Governments;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to mitigate the impact of drought situation on the farmers and prevent them from committing suicide?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA )

(a) & (b): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs,  Govt.  of  India,  compiles  and  disseminates  information  on  suicides,  including profile  of  suicide  victims  classified  according  to  profession,  in  its  publication  titled 'Accidental  Deaths  and  Suicides  in  India'  every  calendar  year.    These  Reports  on suicides upto 2014, are available at its website. The Report for the year 2015 has not been published yet.  As per ADSI Reports for the years 2013 and 2014, the State-wise details of suicides of farmers/ agricultural labourers due to various reasons have been compiled  in  the  statement  at Annexure  I. For  the  year  2014,  the  suicide  data  was delineated for the first time under two categories - farmers and  agricultural labourers. However,  the  causes  of  such  suicides  have  been  indicated,  in  respect  of  farmers suicide only. The cause-wise data for the year 2014 may be seen at Annexure-II.

For the years 2015 and 2016, the data, as furnished by the State Governments in respect of farmers' suicide due to agrarian reasons, have been compiled and placed in the statement at Annexure III .

(c) & (d): Farmers  are  indebted  due  to  both  institutional and  non-institutional sources of credit.  In order to bring more and more farmers within the institutional fold, the Government is providing, through institutional sources (commercial banks, cooperative banks and regional rural banks), short term crop loans and medium/ long term loan to farmers.  The agriculture credit target for 2016-17 has been increased to Rs. 9 lakh crore from Rs. 8.5 lakh crore during 2015-16.

Short term crop loan of Rs.3.00 lakh is provided to farmers at an interest rate of 7% per annum.  Farmers, who promptly repay their crop loans as per the repayment schedule fixed by the banks, get the benefit of interest subvention of 3%.  Thus, the effective interest rate for the short term crop loan is 4% per annum.

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 harvest on the same rate as available to crop loan against negotiable warehouse receipt for keeping their produce in warehouses.

The  limit  of  collateral  free  farm  loan  has  been  increased  from  Rs.50,000/-  to Rs.1,00,000/-.

In  order  to  ensure  that  all  eligible  farmers  are  provided  with  hassle-free and timely credit for their agricultural operations, the Government has introduced the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, which enables them to purchase agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. and draw cash to satisfy their consumption needs. The KCC scheme has  since  been  simplified  and  converted  into  ATM  enabled  debit  card with, inter-alia, facilities of one time documentation, built-in cost escalation in the limit, any number of drawals within the limit, etc.

Joint  Liability  Group  (JLG)  is  an  informal  group  comprising  4  to  10  individuals coming together  for  the  purpose  of  availing  bank  loan  on  individual  basis  or  through group  mechanism  against  mutual  guarantee.  The  JLG  mode  of  financing  serves  as collateral  substitute  for  loans  to  be  provided  to  the  target  group  i.e.  small,  marginal, tenant farmers, oral lessees, share croppers, etc.   The total number of JLGs and total loan amount provided (cumulative) as on 31.12.2015 are as under:-

| No. JLGs financed as on 31.12.2015   | No. JLGs financed as on 31.12.2015   |
|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| No.                                  | Amount                               |
| 14.11 lakh                           | Rs.13968.76 crore                    |

Reserve Bank of India has revised the criteria of crop loss. It has allowed State Level Bankers' Committee/ District Level Consultative Committees/Banks to take a view on rescheduling of loans if the crop loss is 33% or more.  Banks have been advised to allow maximum period of repayment of upto 2 years (including the moratorium period of 1 year) if the crop loss is between 33% and 50%.  If the crop loss is 50% or more, the restructured period for repayment is extended to a maximum of 5 years (including the moratorium period of 1 year). The Banks have further been advised that all short-term loans eligible for restructuring are converted into term loan.  In all cases of restructuring, moratorium period of at least one year is granted. The existing term loan installments are rescheduled.

The State Government also undertake enforcement measures against unauthorized and illegal moneylending activities under their own State Acts.

(e): During the year 2015-16, Karnataka, Chhattishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Telangana,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Jharkhand  and Rajasthan had submitted Memoranda seeking financial Assistance from NDRF for the loss  suffered  by  Agriculture  sector  during  Kharif  due  to  drought.    Govt.  of  India  has approved Rs.12,773.34 crore in this regard.

Karnataka submitted Memorandum seeking financial assistance for crop loss due to drought in Rabi.  The Central Government has sanctioned a sum  of Rs.723.23 crore under NDRF to Karnataka.

Besides  the  above,  various  other  measures  have  been  taken  to  deal  with  the situation of drought:-

I.  Intervention made in drought affected areas:-

(i)  Implementation of diesel Subsidy Scheme for protective irrigation of crops; Govt. of Bihar, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh have informed that they are implementing the Diesel Subsidy Scheme.

(ii)  Enhancement of ceiling on seed subsidy to partially recompense the farmer for the additional  expenditure  incurred  in  resowing  and/or  purchasing  appropriate  varieties of seeds;

(iii)    Implementation  of  interventions  on  perennial  horticulture  crops  under  Mission  for Integrated     Development of Horticulture (MIDH);

(iv)  Implementation  of  Additional  Fodder  Development  Programme  (AFDP)  as  a  subscheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

II.  Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities has prepared contingency plans for 600 districts for implementing  location  specific  interventions  to  sustain  agriculture  production  in  the eventuality of any extreme climatic events.

III.  Central Government has relaxed the norms under MGNREGA to provide additional employment  of  50  days  over  and  above  the  100  days  per  household  in  the  areas affected by natural calamities including drought for the current year.  So far, a sum of Rs.18,408.98 crore has been released during 2015-16, to the aforesaid 10 drought hit States under MGNREGA.

## Unstarred Question No. 425 for 26-4-2016

## Number of Suicides under Subhead "Self-employed Persons (Farmers) for various reasons

|         |                   | 2013                | 2014    | 2014       |
|---------|-------------------|---------------------|---------|------------|
| Sl. No. | State/UT          | Farmers & Labourers | Farmers | Labourers  |
| 1       | ANDHRA PRADESH    |                     | 160     | 472        |
| 2       | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 2014                | 0       | 3          |
| 3       | ASSAM             | 37                  | 21      | 38         |
| 4       | BIHAR             | 305                 | 0       | 10         |
| 5       | CHHATTISGARH      | 127                 | 443     | 312        |
| 6       | GOA               | 0                   | 0       | 0          |
| 7       | GUJARAT           | 1                   | 45      | 555        |
| 8       | HARYANA           | 582                 | 14      | 105        |
| 9       | HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 374                 | 32      | 31         |
| 10      | JAMMU & KASHMIR   | 33                  | 12      | 25         |
| 11      | JHARKHAND         | 18                  | 0       | 4          |
| 12      | KARNATAKA         | 142                 | 321     | 447        |
| 13      | KERALA            | 1403                | 107     | 700        |
| 14      | MADHYA PRADESH    | 972                 | 826     | 372        |
| 15      | MAHARASHTRA       | 1090                | 2568    | 1436       |
| 16      | MANIPUR           | 3146                | 0       | 0          |
| 17      | MEGHALAYA         | 1                   | 0       | 2          |
| 18      | MIZORAM           | 5                   | 0       | 5          |
| 19      | NAGALAND          | 6                   | 0       | 0          |
| 20      | ODISHA            | 2                   | 5       | 97         |
| 21      | PUNJAB            | 150                 | 24      | 40         |
| 22      | RAJASTHAN         | 83                  | 0       | 373        |
| 23      | SIKKIM            | 292                 | 35      | 0          |
| 24      | TAMIL NADU        | 35                  | 68      | 827        |
| 25      | TELANGANA         | 105                 | 898     | 449        |
| 26      | TRIPURA           | NA                  | 0       | 32         |
| 27      | UTTAR PRADESH     | 56                  | 63      | 129        |
| 28      | UTTARAKHAND       | 750                 | 0       | 0          |
| 29      | WEST BENGAL       | 15                  | 0       | 230        |
|         | TOTAL (STATES)    | 0                   | 5642    | 6694       |
| 30      | A & N ISLANDS     | 11744               | 8       | 0          |
| 31      | CHANDIGARH        | 5                   | 0       | 0          |
| 32      | D & N HAVELI      | 0                   | 0       | 0          |
| 33      | DAMAN & DIU       | 15                  | 0       | 0          |
| 34      | DELHI (UT)        | 0                   | 0       | 0          |
| 35      | LAKSHADWEEP       | 8                   | 0       | 0          |
| 36      | PUDUCHERRY        | 0                   | 0       | 16         |
|         | TOTAL (UTs)       | 0                   | 8       | 16         |
|         | TOTAL (ALL INDIA) | 28 11772            | 5650    | 6710 12360 |

Source : Report on 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India' for relevant years, National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs.

## Unstarred Question No. 425 for 26-4-2016

Number of Suicides under Subhead "Self-employed Persons (Farmers) for crop loss and debt burden.

|         |                   | 2014       | 2014        |
|---------|-------------------|------------|-------------|
| Sl. No. | State/UT          | Crop loss* | Debt burden |
| 1       | ANDHRA PRADESH    | 42         | 36          |
| 2       | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 0          | 0           |
| 3       | ASSAM             | 0          | 0           |
| 4       | BIHAR             | 0          | 0           |
| 5       | CHHATTISGARH      | 4          | 0           |
| 6       | GOA               | 0          | 0           |
| 7       | GUJARAT           | 3          | 0           |
| 8       | HARYANA           | 0          | 0           |
| 9       | HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 28         | 1           |
| 10      | JAMMU & KASHMIR   | 0          | 0           |
| 11      | JHARKHAND         | 0          | 0           |
| 12      | KARNATAKA         | 105        | 51          |
| 13      | KERALA            | 0          | 5           |
| 14      | MADHYA PRADESH    | 119        | 1           |
| 15      | MAHARASHTRA       | 350        | 857         |
| 16      | MANIPUR           | 0          | 0           |
| 17      | MEGHALAYA         | 0          | 0           |
| 18      | MIZORAM           | 0          | 0           |
| 19      | NAGALAND          | 0          | 0           |
| 20      | ODISHA            | 0          | 1           |
| 21      | PUNJAB            | 0          | 3           |
| 22      | RAJASTHAN         | 0          | 0           |
| 23      | SIKKIM            | 0          | 0           |
| 24      | TAMIL NADU        | 0          | 0           |
| 25      | TELANGANA         | 295        | 208         |
| 26      | TRIPURA           | 0          | 0           |
| 27      | UTTAR PRADESH     | 6          | 0           |
| 28      | UTTARAKHAND       | 0          | 0           |
| 29      | WEST BENGAL       | 0          | 0           |
|         | TOTAL (STATES)    | 952        | 1163        |
| 30      | A & N ISLANDS     | 0          | 0           |
| 31      | CHANDIGARH        | 0          | 0           |
| 32      | D & N HAVELI      | 0          | 0           |
| 33      | DAMAN & DIU       | 0          | 0           |
| 34      | DELHI (UT)        | 0          | 0           |
| 35      | LAKSHADWEEP       | 0          | 0           |
| 36      | PUDUCHERRY        | 0          | 0           |
|         | TOTAL (UTs)       | 0          | 0           |
|         | TOTAL (ALL INDIA) | 952        | 1163        |

Source : Report on 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India' for relevant years, National Crime

Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs.

(*) Due to natural calamities and other reasons.

## Unstarred Question No. 425 for 26-4-2016

## Number of Suicides by farmers due to agrarian reasons as reported by State Governments

| Sl. No.   | State/ UT         | 2015            | 2016   | Reported on   |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------|--------|---------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    | 58              | NR     | 28-01-2016    |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh | 0               | 0      | 14-03-2016    |
| 3         | Assam             | 0               | NR     | 14-03-2016    |
| 4         | Bihar             | 1               |        | 13-08-2015    |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh      | 3               |        | 16-11-2015    |
| 6         | Goa               | 0               | 0      | 04-04-2016    |
| 7         | Gujarat           | 3               | NR     | 17-03-2016    |
| 8         | Haryana           | 3               | 0      | 28-03-2016    |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh  | 0               | 0      | 10/3/2016     |
| 10        | Jammu & Kashmir   | 0               | 0      | 14-03-2016    |
| 11        | Jharkhand         | 0               | 0      | 10/3/2016     |
| 12        | Karnataka (F/Y)   | 107             |        | 22-07-2015    |
| 13        | Kerala            | 1               | 0      | 29-02-2016    |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh    | 0               |        | 03-06-2015    |
| 15        | Maharashtra       | 1841            | 57     | 29-02-2016    |
| 16        | Manipur           | NR              |        |               |
| 17        | Meghalaya         | 0               | 0      | 11-03-2016    |
| 18        | Mizoram           | 0               | 0      | 11-03-2016    |
| 19        | Nagaland          | 0               |        | 7/3/2016      |
| 20        | Odisha            | #139            | 0      | 3-Oct-16      |
| 21        | Punjab Farmers    | #46             |        | 11-03-2016    |
|           | Labourers         | #449            | 56     |               |
| 22        | Rajasthan 3       | Rajasthan 3     | NR     | 10-02-2016    |
| 23        | Sikkim            | 0               | NR     | 17.02.1016    |
| 24        | Tamil Nadu # 1    | Tamil Nadu # 1  | NA     | 29.2.2016     |
| 25        | Telangana *342    | Telangana *342  | 3      | 14-03-2016    |
| 26        | Tripura           | 0               | 0      | 21-03-2016    |
| 27        | Uttar Pradesh     | 0               |        | 23-07-2015    |
| 28        | Uttarakhand       | 0               |        | 5/3/2016      |
| 29        | West Bengal       | 0               |        | 10-12-2015    |
| 30        | A & N Islands 0   | A & N Islands 0 | 0      | 3/3/2016      |
| 31        | Chandigarh 0      | Chandigarh 0    | 0      | 02-03-2016    |
| 32        | D & N Haveli      | 0               |        | 17-02-2016    |
| 33        | Daman & Diu       | 0               |        | 03-08-2015    |
| 34        | NCT Delhi 0       | NCT Delhi 0     | 0      | 26-02-2016    |
| 35        | Lakshadweep       | NR              |        |               |
| 36        | Puducherry 0      | Puducherry 0    | 0      | 08-03-2016    |

NR - Not reported, #  includes suicides of farmers and also labourers, due to various reasons * includes suicides during  the year 2014.

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