2. NameRoll No. Pooja Gupta B046 AnuradhaShah B065 Pinky Vishwakarma B018 Nazima Sota B030 Mayuri Jatale B060 Std – FY.BCBI-1st Sem Subject – EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Topic – FARMER SUICIDES IN MAHARASHTRA

3. Farmer Suicides in Maharashtra An Overview

5. The first state where suicides were reported was Maharashtra. Soon newspapers began to report similar occurrences from Andhra Pradesh.

6. In the beginning it was believed that most of the suicides were happening among the cotton growers, especially those from Vidarbha.

8. Reasons

9. Other reasons for suicides Most of the suicides were because of combination of more than one factor.

10. Reasons for Suicides in Six Districts of Vidarbha in five years

12. Single crop a year.

13. Cotton the dominant crop.

14. Improper irrigation.

15. Yield limited by rain, but regular rise in cost of input lowered margin of profit.

17. Harassment of the family by corrupt moneylenders.

18. Widows burdened with the new responsibility as the sole breadwinner.

20. Total number of suicide cases and eligible cases

22. 86.5 percent of farmers who took their own lives were financially indebted.

23. Their average debt was about $835.

25. 91-97 % of those who committed suicide are males.

26. 84 to 89 percent are married.

28. Over 1000 suicides in the year 2006.

29. In this state alone there are almost 2 suicides a day.

32. To benefit consumers by giving them fresh produce at reasonable prices.

33. Immediate value realization of the produce to the farmers without any deductions.

34. To provide produce in appropriate weights and measures to consumer.

36. The relief packages were mostly mixtureof existing schemes. Apart from the farmer helpline and the direct financial assistance, there was scarcely anything new being offered.

37. The farmer helpline did not give any substantial help to farmers.

38. The basis for selection of beneficiaries under the assistance scheme was not well-defined. Also, type of assistance to be given led to problems like a farmer needing a pair of bullocks getting a pump set and vice versa.

40. “ The problem cannot be solved through economic packages alone. What is needed is social and spiritual interventions so that the farmers realize that suicide is not the way out…they should understand that they need to develop self confidence. The future generation should have the mental strength to face life's challenges.” - Amma, March 2007 On 27 September 2007, the Ashram inaugurated two programs aiming at fighting the problem: Vidyamritam and Amrita SREE.

42. After completion of their training, the women are given the necessary start-up capital to begin small, home-based businesses.

44. Due to the number of unanticipated applications received, the MAM pledged to sponsor the education of 100,000 children all over India.

47. The greater the support from friends, family, local communities, national policies and society as a whole, the less impact stress will have on individuals and families.

48. Everyone who eats has a stake in small farmers' well-being.