Raipur: According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 10,000 farmers commit suicide in India every year. Chhattisgarh is one of the states that is disproportionately affected by farmer suicides, with over 140 farmers dying by suicide in the state in 2023.
Commenting on the state of farmer suicide in the country, CM Baghel wrote on Twitter “During whose 15 years of rule, 15000 farmers committed suicide. It is natural for those under whose rule loans were recovered brutally from the farmers of drought-affected tehsils”.
The Chhattisgarh government has taken a number of steps to address farmer suicide, including:
- Providing financial assistance to farmers: The government provides financial assistance to farmers who have lost their crops due to drought or other natural disasters. The government also offers loan waiver schemes to help farmers reduce their debt burden.
- Improving crop insurance: The government has improved the crop insurance scheme to provide better protection to farmers against crop failure.
- Promoting crop diversification: The government is encouraging farmers to diversify their crops to reduce their risk of crop failure. The government is also providing subsidies for seeds and fertilizers to help farmers grow high-value crops.
- Improving access to markets: The government is working to improve access to markets for farmers so that they can get better prices for their crops. The government is also setting up food parks and processing units to help farmers add value to their produce.
On October 24, ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled next month, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel promised a loan waiver to farmers in the event of the Congress returning to power. This is the fourth guarantee that the Congress has made in the run-up to the polls, after promising to conduct a caste census, buy 20 quintals/acre of paddy, and provide housing to 17.5 lakh families in the state.
Also Read: CM Baghel To Waive Farmer Loans