Panel: Not all farmer suicide cases genuine

Mysuru: While the alarming trend of farmers killing themselves continues both in Mandya and Mysuru, officials here  are accusing some families of misrepresenting facts to claim ex-gratia of  Rs 5 lakh.

While 106 farmers’ suicides have been reported in Mandya district  and 80 in Mysuru district since June last year, only 37 suicides in each district are being accepted as genuine by the district level sub- committees, which issue the ex gratia to the families of the dead farmers.

In Mandya district,  four farmers' suicides were reported in June, 30 in July, 15 in August, six in September, 24 in October, 10 in November, eight in December and nine in January. But 19 have been rejected as either the land was not in the names of the dead farmers, or they hadn’t borrowed from nationalised banks or co-operative societies.

“Fifty cases are still pending as the committee has not yet received documents related to bank loans and forensic science lab reports,”  sources said.  

In Mysuru district, three farmers’ suicides were reported in June, 11  in July, 12  in August, six in September, 16 in October, eight each in November and December, 10 in January and six in February. “So far ex-gratia has been issued to 37 farmers, and 22 cases have  been rejected. Twenty one cases are still pending due to want of bank documents and FSL reports,” said district administration sources.

Farmers’ leader  Kurubur Shanthakumar says the problems of farmers have  increased over the past six months as the South-West Monsoon and North-East Monsoon failed to come to their rescue and they have no water for summer crop.

“ Also farmers are not getting a  good price for their crop.  Sugarcane factories owe them Rs 5,000 crore in arrears  and the input subsidy given by the government is negligible. The government should waive the Rs 9,500-crore loans taken by farmers from co-operative societies,”  he said.