Bengaluru, In a distressing revelation, Karnataka has witnessed 692 farmer suicides over the past eleven months, a grim testament to the ongoing drought crisis ravaging the state. This statistic, provided by the Revenue Department, highlights the severe impact of agricultural distress in the region, further exacerbated by financial burdens from farm loans.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the data illuminates the dire circumstances in Karnataka, with districts like Haveri, Belagavi, and Chikkamagaluru experiencing the highest incidences of farmer suicides. The report also notes an additional 548 accidental deaths among farmers within the same timeframe, bringing the total number of farmer fatalities to 1,240 over ten months. This equates to an average of more than four deaths per day, underscoring the acute rural crisis the state is facing.

The Karnataka government has linked the majority of these suicides to the compounded pressures of farm loan distress and prolonged drought conditions, which have left 223 out of 236 taluks in the state grappling with drought, including 196 severely hit areas. The reliance on loans from cooperative institutions and private money lenders has placed a significant financial strain on farmers, particularly because compensation schemes primarily cover suicides related to bank loans, leaving those indebted to private lenders in a precarious position.

The state’s compensation policy offers Rs 5 lakh for families of farmers who commit suicide due to debt, along with a Rs 2,000 monthly pension for the surviving spouse. For accidental deaths, including those caused by snakebites, the compensation is Rs 2 lakh. Since 2010, the Karnataka government has disbursed compensation in 448 suicide cases and 307 accidental death cases. However, 76 applications for suicide and 42 for accidental deaths have been rejected, leaving several families without the necessary financial support during critical times.

This report sheds light on the severe agrarian distress in Karnataka, prompting urgent calls for comprehensive measures to address both the immediate financial crises and the underlying environmental challenges contributing to the state’s agricultural woes.