pps309
Prime VIP
Ludhiana, March 18
The total indebtedness of Punjab farmers as of this yearend could be close to Rs 40,000 crore on which the interest burden alone could be well imagined.
This was observed by renowned economists and socialists during a national seminar on “The other side of politics: Political
economy of farmers suicides in Punjab” held at Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana,
yesterday.
Dr Sukhpal Singh, a senior economist from the PAU, Ludhiana, who presented his views on “Farmer and agricultural labourer suicides in Punjab”, stated that the farmers’ debt had touched Rs 35,000 crore by the end of last year.
“The debt was Rs 30,394 crore in 2008 and number of farmers’ suicides was around 1,757,” said Sukhpal, adding that the rural sector in Punjab was lagging far behind in development.
Dr Karam Singh, member of Farmers Commission, Punjab, asserted that tractors were a must for today’s agriculture and these were viable for the economy
as a whole.
Dr Gopal Krishan Iyer, consultant, Haryana Institute of Rural Development and former professor of the department of sociology, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, said: “About 19 per cent of the marginal and small farmers were under acute burden of indebtedness.”
The economists remembered Malcolm Darling, who in early 1925 had said: “A farmer is born in debt, lives in debt and dies in debt.”
Punjab, which once had been the most prosperous agricultural state, is also the one whose peasantry is indebted the most. Its farmers are heavily under debt, which carries a high rate of interest.
At least 65.63 per cent farmers who committed suicide were between 20 and 40 years of age
While 6.6 per cent of victims were below 20 years; 27.77 per cent were above 40 years of age
78.94 per cent suicide victims were marginal farmers
74.05 per cent died after consuming insecticides and 10.98 per cent hanged themselves
73 per cent suicides were due to debts and 27 per cent due to other factors
At least 37.73 per cent victims were drug addicts
47.13 per cent were illiterate,and at least 45.87 per cent were metriculate
Not a single bread earner was left in at least 50 per cent families
The total indebtedness of Punjab farmers as of this yearend could be close to Rs 40,000 crore on which the interest burden alone could be well imagined.
This was observed by renowned economists and socialists during a national seminar on “The other side of politics: Political
economy of farmers suicides in Punjab” held at Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana,
yesterday.
Dr Sukhpal Singh, a senior economist from the PAU, Ludhiana, who presented his views on “Farmer and agricultural labourer suicides in Punjab”, stated that the farmers’ debt had touched Rs 35,000 crore by the end of last year.
“The debt was Rs 30,394 crore in 2008 and number of farmers’ suicides was around 1,757,” said Sukhpal, adding that the rural sector in Punjab was lagging far behind in development.
Dr Karam Singh, member of Farmers Commission, Punjab, asserted that tractors were a must for today’s agriculture and these were viable for the economy
as a whole.
Dr Gopal Krishan Iyer, consultant, Haryana Institute of Rural Development and former professor of the department of sociology, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, said: “About 19 per cent of the marginal and small farmers were under acute burden of indebtedness.”
The economists remembered Malcolm Darling, who in early 1925 had said: “A farmer is born in debt, lives in debt and dies in debt.”
Punjab, which once had been the most prosperous agricultural state, is also the one whose peasantry is indebted the most. Its farmers are heavily under debt, which carries a high rate of interest.
Factfile
At least 65.63 per cent farmers who committed suicide were between 20 and 40 years of age
While 6.6 per cent of victims were below 20 years; 27.77 per cent were above 40 years of age
78.94 per cent suicide victims were marginal farmers
74.05 per cent died after consuming insecticides and 10.98 per cent hanged themselves
73 per cent suicides were due to debts and 27 per cent due to other factors
At least 37.73 per cent victims were drug addicts
47.13 per cent were illiterate,and at least 45.87 per cent were metriculate
Not a single bread earner was left in at least 50 per cent families
