Farmers Suicide In India
Most underrated and not white collared job- farming. The farmer community is one of the most deprived and undermined sections of society. Despite executing one of the essential operations- meeting the food requirements of the entire nation, they do not receive any kind of reciprocation from the civilians.
Especially in a country like India, which is known to be an agriculture dominated nation, farmer’s plight is unimaginably horrible. Farmer’s job is deemed as the world’s most difficult job, but as it is popularly said, dirty hands signify clean conscience. They work with complete devotion and utter dedication.
In the past, farmers’ situation was pathetic, but now the government has made several changes in the agricultural policies that are salubrious for farmers. “No Farmer, No Food”. India primarily depends on the primary sector since time immemorial. And that’s why farmers are very important for our country’s growth. Teachers of boarding schools in Dehradun make their students aware of GOI’s new agricultural policies and laws. So that students also respect farmers of India.
Farmers do not evaluate their progress only in monetary terms; they have the most satisfied and contented work, nourishing the entire society. What would we eat if all the farmers shifted their profession and stopped harvesting the produce to keep up the food stock adequate for complete 365 days? Today’s children seek to see themselves as a doctor of an engineer or some other top-cream highly sophisticated and handsomely paid jobs. Not many children want to shell out their sweat and hard work and become a farmer.
Even though they are less paid, they fail to have high ambitions. Farmers only ask for their rightful money that their product deserves. Even this is denied to them. There is a complete racket of goons operating which has compelled many farmers to not only end their life but the entire family as well. The poor farmers are not provided with a loan facility, due to inadequate documentation or any other random reason.
Many times even the farmers restrain their selves from visiting a bank for loans due to unaffordable high-interest rates. Hence, to procure seeds for the harvest and other essentials like the pesticides, etc. they ought to visit their greedy local landlords, who are always at their service to ruin farmer’s lives. These thugs mortgage the land and in turn provide some money that is again insufficient. Additionally, they deduct the interest amount even before giving them the money.
Meanwhile, the farmer’s crops are ready for the harvest, and he sells his produce to the middle man. The middle man buys the produce at such low and unaffordable prices that forget about spending, their earned money is not even sufficient to pay back their debts. In this situation, they are forced by the landlords to pay extra money for crossing the deadline or else; their land is no more theirs. The farmers are left with no other option than to end their life sorrowfully.
Remember, the debt amount isn’t a humongous amount. It is some thousand rupees that we very conveniently tend to spend in the malls or otherwise. Farmers have limited requirements and limited sources of income, yet unlimited sorrow and misery. The government has formulated several policies on paper that lack proper implementation.
Usually, farmers are less proficient and under learned individuals, who have never been to a school and are quite unaware of their rights and latest advancement. Many farmers don’t even know that they are eligible for subsidized seeds and fertilizers, etc.
Many farmers, especially in Maharashtra, have committed suicide due to overburdened debts. And the much proficient citizens of the country, what are we doing. Not-a-thing! We keep bargaining with the poor farmers who try to eradicate the middle man and sell their products themselves. Without questioning the hidden charges and other taxes, we ought to buy all the lavish-looking products is costly and esthetically gorgeous places.
We, as the privileged portion of society, forget our duty to give back something to society. Where some are completely unaware of farmer’s struggles, others use farmer’s hardships as a political agenda to gather votes. Deeply no one cares for farmers in INDIA!
Lisa Minucci, CM Bernard, Mark Salamon, Stephen H Stein, PC Tech Magazine, Emily Keifline, Cheney Meaghan, Nancy Adams, The XQ Team, Gamecock Athletics
