Karimnagar: Farming is proving deadly for some farmers in the district. On an average, 100 farmers are either committing suicide or being electrocuted every year. There is no respite from suicides in spite of the crop loan waiver and farmer-centric welfare schemes announced by the Telangana state government.
As many as 175 farmers committed suicide due to losses in farming, while 156 were electrocuted in the last three years in the district, according to statistics available with the District Crime Records Bureau. Alarmingly, the suicides are increasing every year. For instance, 59 suicides were registered in 2012. But the number rose to 91 in 2013, suggesting a steep increase in the trend.
Meanwhile, 25 farmers ended their lives till August 5, 2014. Significantly, over 15 farmers committed suicide in the last two months. All of them had resorted to the drastic step as they were depressed following heavy losses. In a majority of the cases — 132 out of 175 — farmers ended their lives by consuming pesticide.
Thirty farmers hanged themselves while the remaining leapt into lakes or rivers, located close to their farms, to end their lives. Meanwhile, 66 farmers were electrocuted while trying either to operate or repair their electric motors in 2011-12. A total of 55 and 35 farmers died after coming in contact with live wires in their agriculture fields in 2012-13 and 2013-14 (as on March 31), respectively. In addition, 32 farmers sustained injuries after being involved in minor accidents due to electricity.
The electricity authorities have paid ex gratia to the kin of 31 electrocuted farmers. As many as 118 cases regarding the electrocuted farmers are still pending with the electricity authorities.
