184 farmers commit suicide in Karnataka in last 3 months: Govt

As many as 184 farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka in the last three months mainly due to debt burden, Parliament was informed on Friday.

"The government of Karnataka has reported that 184 farmers committed suicide in the state during the last three months," Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundari said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. As many as 152 farmers committed suicide in July, 20 in June and 12 in May, he said.

The Karnataka government has reported "debt" as the main reason for farmers' suicides and has taken suitable steps including enforcement of relevant acts, additional support to minimum support price, concessional loans to farmers, loan waiver, among others, he added.

Asked if the Centre is considering to announce any immediate relief measures to debt ridden farmers of Karnataka, the Minister said, "The government believes that its comprehensive intervention that address the concern from production to marketing stages including enhanced credit availability will take care of the situation....Agriculture including agricultural indebtedness being a state subject, state government takes appropriate measures for development of agriculture sector in the state," he said.

Among several measures taken by Karnataka, Kundaria said the state has set up committees at district and sub-divisional levels to enforce the provisions under Karnataka Money lenders Act, Karnataka Pawn Brokers Act, Chit Fund Act and Karnataka Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act.

"So far, 1,031 cases have been filed against erring money lenders and 515 persons arrested," he said.