P SAINATH REVEALS OFFICIAL VIDARBHA FARM SUICIDE FIGURE IS ALMOST DOUBLE THAN VJAS SUCIDE LIST : PRIME MINISTER URGED TO CONSTITUTE JPC TO INVESTIGAT

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025

Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947

(Regd Office : At Post : Pandharkawada-445 302, Tq : Kelapur, Distt : Yavatmal)

Ref-Vidarbha Farm Crisis-2007 PRESS-NOTE Dated- 2^ND Sep.2007

FOUR MORE VIDARBHA FARMERS SUICIDE REPORTED ON 1^ST SEPTEMBER-2007

P SAINATH REVEALS OFFICIAL VIDARBHA FARM SUICIDE FIGURE IS ALMOST DOUBLE THAN VJAS SUCIDE LIST : PRIME MINISTER URGED TO CONSTITUTE JPC TO INVESTIGATE VIDARBHA’S ON GOING FARMERS SUICIDES SPIRAL

Nagpur-2^ND September 2007

IN SUICIDE PRONE WEST VIDARBHA FOUR MORE FARM SUICIDES REPORTED TODAY ,THEY ARE

1.DEVANAND NANDGAONKAR OF ADGOAN IN YAVATMAL ,

2.VASANT PURAM OF BORI GOSWAMI IN YAVATMAL.

3.SGARAD HANDE OF CHINCHALA IN WARDHA AND

4.GHTRASINGH BAIS OF HIWARA IN YAVATMAL ,

EARLIER TO THIS ON 30^TH AND 31^ST AUGUST FIVE COTTON FARMERS SUICIDES WERE REPORTED WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED AS NATTHU ZALE(BULDHANA),RAKESH BAMBAL(AKOLA),DADARAO CHOUDHARI (AMARAVATI), ZOBA BHISE (AMARAVATI) AND ASHANNA SHERKURWAR(YAVATMAL) SUICIDES WERE REPORTED TAKING THE OFFICIAL TALLY TO 789 SINCE JAN.2007 AND 1652 SINCE PRIME MINISTER RELEASED THE PACKAGE TO STOP THIS ON GOING FARM SUICIDES IN WEST VIDARBHA,KISHOR TIWARI OF VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI INFORMED IN NAGPUR TODAY.

P sainath reports shocking figures of vidarbha farm suicides

India leading rural journalist p.sainath in his article has reported that Police station records show that the total number of suicides in 2006 (in the six districts) was a stunning 2,832. Higher than the already awful figure of 2,425 the previous year. Much of that increase came after the "relief packages" had been launched . this vidarbha farm suicides figure is almost double than listed in the vjas farm suicide register it means every 8 hourly in vidarbha when one innocent farmer’s suicides is official reported same time at least one farmers suicide is completely ignored by media and administration, this is very shocking and by now truth of farm suicide should investigated,kishor tiwari of vidarbha jan andolan samiti demanded today in press note.

Here is text of p.sainath article ,I quote

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, the number of suicides in the six districts has crossed 600 in the first eight months of this year. Yet, when Dr. Singh arrives in Mumbai today, he will be greeted with success stories. Of farm suicides now being in decline. Of the success of his "package" and that of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Of the 'White Revolution' in Vidharbha as a result of the "huge rise" in milk production. Of the far better credit situation (even as farmers there blockade banks for the opposite reason).

On the whole, it's better for Dr. Singh and his colleagues to conduct their "review" from the safety of Mumbai. The picture on the ground in Vidharbha is most depressing. We are into the spraying season — when the spurt in suicides is worst. Is there a "decline" in the number of farm suicides? On the contrary, they keep going on and up. What has "declined" is the number of such deaths that the government "accepts" as "eligible for compensation."

This is what has "declined" — and with it the government's credibility and ability to speak the truth to itself. The levels of distress are appalling and we now see multiple suicides in the same households. In one instance in Akola, three under the same roof within two years. Elsewhere, two in the same family is no longer as rare as it was. You would think that any State would move in emergency mode. All the government of Maharashtra has told its officials is that the "numbers" must come down. (Election year is not that far off.) And so they do. This creates a curious disconnect. On account of having been pulled up by the courts, the government is obliged to maintain a public record of the total numbers.

On the other hand, the political imperative to show that these deaths are in decline. The government resolves this by doing both. Leading to a Kafka-esque drama Kafka would have been proud of. Police station records show that the total number of suicides in 2006 (in the six districts) was a stunning 2,832. Higher than the already awful figure of 2,425 the previous year. Much of that increase came after the "relief packages" had been launched.

So how did suicides "decline"? By taking that figure of 2,832 and breaking it up into absurd sub-groups. For instance, "farmers suicides" is a wholly different category from farmers' "family member suicides." All these "family members" were also farmers, and had done no work other than farming all their lives. Often, the "family member" was the eldest son who really ran the farm (his father being over 70 years of age). But the land is still in the father's name. So, with no land in his own name, the government does not count the victim as a farmer. Nor will it accept women as farmers, no matter what it says in public.

So, in fully rural districts, the number of "farmers" taking their lives becomes small. Just 836 out of 2,832 in 2006. But in the very next column you can see that "family member suicides" is 684. Which means that, even by official count, more than 1,500 farmers killed themselves last year. And finally, the "eligible" suicides out of these is just 578.

In short you "bring down" the suicide rate by raising the "rejection rate." That is, the number of suicides dismissed as "non-genuine" — each month. That is how a "decline" is achieved. In one district in the month of July, not a single one of more than 30 suicides was accepted as "genuine." Kafka would have been envious or just stolen the plot.

Date:31/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/31/stories/2007083155891200.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UNQUOTE

As first time Indian agriculture shrad pawarji has officially defended Maharashtra govt. on vidarbha farmers suicides issue and informed that situation is under control and it’s media has over hyped the issue .but in fact the condition is much more pathetic and serious that is has been reported in the media as sharad has not visited any farm family(due to ICC-BCCI work load) till date he is not aware of ground reality, kishor tiwari added.

“WE DEMAND THAT GOVT. OF INDIA SHOULD APPOINT JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO LOOK IN TO ALL ASPECTS OF VIDARBHA FARM SUICIDES AS IT IS NEED OF HOUR TO AVOID MASS KILLINGS OF INNOCENT COTTON FARMERS OF VIDARBHA” KISHOR TIWARI SAID.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please arrange to release this press note

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

For VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT