Recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that since 2020 farm suicides have declined from rate of 9.4% of the total suicide cases across India to 7.4% of total suicides in 2019. In Punjab, number of farm suicides has continued to hover around 300 since 2016, according to NCRB.
In the two months of March and April this year, Punjab recorded a 50% decrease in such suicides as compared to the corresponding period in previous years.
As per the data sourced from the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), which has been collecting the numbers from media reports of the suicides, and crosschecked against cases registered by the police since 2016-17, a total of 16 farmers and farm labourers took the extreme step in April this year while 27 killed themselves in March this year.
Across India, 12,602 farm suicides were reported in 2015. In 2019, the number came down to 10,281, shows the data was released by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) under the head, “accidental deaths and suicides in India (ADSI)” on Monday.
“We are relieved to some extent that farmer suicides have decreased this year,” said Sukhpal Singh, BKU-Ugrahan leader and record keeper of such suicides. He said that the decrease could be attributed to the ongoing lockdown due to the corona crisis.
Farm expert and former Professor of economics at Punjabi University, Patiala, Gian Singh, said that due to the lockdown, farmers have come together through social media and in some places they have collectively decided on various issues, including paying hefty rent for the land they took on contract and which often pushes them under heavy debts. “This feeling of collectiveness has also acted as a deterrent against those thinking of taking the extreme step. Earlier, a debt-ridden farmer used to think that he is alone and no one will support him. But with lockdown bringing them together, even though on social media, they are finding support in each other,” said Prof Singh.
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In Punjab, the number of farm suicides in Punjab fell to 302 in 2019, from 323 in 2018. However, farm organisations and a griculture experts claim the actual figures are much higher.They cite a survey conducted by three universities of Punjab. from 2000 to December 2016, to corroborate their point. Accsurvey, 16,606 farmers and farm labourers committed suicide in Punjab over the 16-year period, taking the average to over 1,000 per year.