August 17, 2017: A Maharashtra Government report has said that thirty-four farmers committed suicide in Marathwada region of the state in the last eight days. The region has seen below-average rainfall this monsoon so far. Data compiled by the Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner showed that 34 farmers ended their lives in eight districts of Marathwada during last eight days, though the cause has not been ascertained in every case yet.
As many as 580 farmer suicides have been reported in Marathwada since 1st January till August 15, with Beed district having maximum 107 suicides. The report also mentioned that kharif crops in the region are in trouble because of lack of rains.
Farmers in Marathwada are fearing crop losses due to a dry spell of the last fortnight. The agriculture department has said that of the 355 tehsils in Maharashtra, 223 have not even received 75 per cent of average rainfall till August 15.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde has accused the Maharashtra government of shirking its responsibility when farmers are committing suicide in Marathwada region that is staring at a “massive drought”.
The continuing dry spell in Marathwada, which had witnessed droughts during three consecutive years between 2012 to 2015, has become a cause of concern. Munde blamed online mode of application for the difficulty the farmers are facing while enrolling themselves for the loan waiver.
He demanded the government declare whole of Marathwada drought-hit and make the online application process simpler for farmers. State Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh, said 1,11,000 farmers have applied for the loan waiver scheme online uptil now. (AIR News)
