India’s high rate of farmer suicides alarms Church

(January 19, 2011) A Church official in India has expressed shock at the reported suicides of 27 farmers over the past 18 days in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state. The number of suicides is shocking and a matter of serious concern for the Church and society, said Fr. Jolly Puthenpura from Yavatmal district, where most of the deaths occurred. “We have offered all our sympathies for the bereaved families, and will do everything possible to help them”, the priest told ucanews on Wednesday. He blamed massive crop failure as the main reason why the farmers took their own lives. Fr. Puthenpura and other local activists said they have urged the state government to compensate farmers for the loss of their crops to prevent further tragedies.
Adverse weather conditions and pests, added to the region’s alarming agrarian crisis,” said Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti, or Vidarbha Society for mass movement. “It is really sad that 27 farmers took their lives in the first 18 days of this month,” Tiwari told ucanews. The deaths are a blot on our great democracy, since the country has failed to protect its farmers who feed its people, he added. He accused government officials of refusing to compensate farmers, which has led to many killing themselves to escape harassment from money lenders. The region for the first time experienced frost during December and January that damaged cotton, pulses and vegetables.