One more farmer hangs himself

Bathinda, 4 Oct:

A farmer of Behman Diwana village today  committed suicide following the failure of cotton crop on the entire tract cultivated by him. The victim, Sukhminder Singh (42), was depressed after he ploughed his failed crop on two-and-a-half acres of own land and about three acres of leased land.

Sukhminder reportedly first consumed some pesticide at his home and then walked up to his fields and hung himself. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital, but was declared brought dead.

This is the seventh suicide case in Bathinda district since August 22. He is survived by his wife, a 15-year-old daughter and a year-old son. Panchayat member Gurjit Singh said: “Sukhminder was under a debt of more than Rs3 lakh. He had to pay Rs40,000 per acre of land which he had taken on lease to grow cotton. He had ploughed his entire crop yesterday before taking the extreme step this morning.

The family had not received any compensation till date.” Shingara Singh Mann, president, BKU, Bathinda, blamed the government for rising number of farmer suicides. “Had the government not recommended and supplied spurious pesticide in the state, the farmers would not have incurred huge losses due to whitefly attack.

Victim Sukhminder Singh too fell prey to government’s anti-farmer policies. The farmers are increasingly losing hopes of getting any help from the government. The victim’s family should immediately be given a compensation of Rs5 lakh, besides their loan should also be waived,” he said.

‘Govt to blame’ Shingara Singh Mann, district president, BKU, said:  Had the government not supplied spurious pesticide, the farmers would not have incurred huge losses. Sukhmindar too fell prey to government’s anti-farmer policies.”