Farmer suicides in Vidarbha have gradually gone down during the last three years, with only 966 cases recorded in 2009, according to official statistics.
The Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swawalamban Mission, a nodal agency of the Maharashtra government, recorded 1,246 farmer suicides in 2007 (in Vidarbha), 1,147 suicides in 2008 and 966 in 2009 respectively, showing a decline in the trend, Mission director general, SG Malakolikar said.
Also, among the 1,246 suicides in 2007, only 337 cases were found to be eligible for compensation as per the definition laid down by government, and decided by a district-level committee, he said.
The committee, headed by the district collector includes the SP, Zila Parishad CEO, agriculture officers, panchayat samiti and a representative each of the farmers and an NGO.
In 2008, only 305 cases were eligible out of the total 1,147, while 201 were taken in out of 966 (in 2009) and 158 cases are still under investigation.
Malakolikar said eligible cases were duly paid necessary compensation of Rs1 lakh – Rs30,000 in cash and remaining Rs70,000 under monthly income scheme of post office.
