N.S.Sajith
Wayanad was just like Vidarbha till recently. A beautiful hilly district in the lap of Western Ghats in North Kerala was known for its torrent of news of Farmers’ suicide. The tragic suicide of around 1300 farmers in the state was the focal point of discourse in the early years of last decade. The agriculture distress in Wayanad district had added to the worry of the state.
Wayanad was extremly vulnerable to the post globalisation reforms as majority of the popualation based on agriculture. In the period of 2001-2006 when UDF government was in the power, 532 farmers committed suicide in Wayanad district only. The drastic fall of the price of agriculture products resulted the mass suicide in the district. The callous attitude of the UDF Governments led firstly A K Antony and Oommen Chandy was widely criticised. The national media too criticised the animosity of the authorities. The demands for writing off agriculture debt were fallen in to deaf ears. No action has been taken by the then government to protect the distressed farmers. The callousness of UDF was paid heavily on them. UDF leaders were argued that no suicide took place because of Agriculture distress. Elections in 2006 showed a clean sweep by LDF in this Congress dominated district. It was the first time in the state’s history, all three seats, Kalpetta, North Wayanad and Sulthan Batheri were won by LDF with massive majority. The trust of the people of Wayanad was well addressed by the LDF Govrnment which came in to power in 2006 elections.
In the very first day the Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan announced that the debts of distressed farmers to be written off. In the first time of history the LDF goverment formed debt relief commission to ascertain the loss faced by the farmers. As per the recommendations of the commission, the goverment written of the debt. 42113 farmers benefited by this decision. Total 1,67,002 application were addressed positively. During 2006 to February 2011, debt amount Rs. 69.45 crores written off. But the whole measures taken by the LDF government were not followed up by the incumbent UDF government.
Tragic suicide of two farmers in Wayand in last week really startled the conscience of the Kerala. The shocking news came from Vellamunda and pulpally. C P Shashi from Vellamunda and Ashokan from Pulpally ended their lives on November 3rd and 5th respectively. These debtridden farmers committed suicide duo to the drastic fall of price of ginger and banana. Recent hike of fertiliser also deteriorated their distress. The rays of hope generated by the LDF government were shattered by the UDF. The sheild of protection given by the LDF government is taken away by the new government.
Suicide trend extends its wing; Two more farmers end their life
Suicide trend which spreads it wings from Wayanad to Kottayam claims two more lives of distressed farmers. On Tuesday one more farmer killed himself in Wayanad by consuming poison. The suicide of Vargheese(48) makes the death toll in Wayanad in to three within one week in this northern hilly district.
Today Kottayam, a Central Kerala district has shivered by hearing news of tragic suicide of paddy farmer P K Sreedharan (73) from Kaippuzha. Thus the distressed farmers’ death toll four month long UDF regime rose to four. The fourth Suicide death occurred in the district of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. (Earlier this week two farmers, Shashidharan and Ashokan both from Wayanad committed suicide.) Both farmers resorted to death as they failed to repay the agriculture loan. SBI and from Co-operative Bank in his locality had given Rs. 4 lakh loan to Sreedharan. But the crop failure made him a defaulter. He consumed rat poison to end his life. Varghese cultivated ginger and Banana in his 1.25 acres of land in Meppadi in Wayanad. The sudden rise of fertilizer and drastic fall of price made him defaulter, his close relatives said.
Wayanad was just like Vidarbha till recently. A beautiful hilly district in the lap of Western Ghats in North Kerala was known for its torrent of news of Farmers’ suicide. The tragic suicide of around 1300 farmers in the state was the focal point of discourse in the early years of last decade. The agriculture distress in Wayanad district had added to the worry of the state.
Wayanad was extremly vulnerable to the post globalisation reforms as majority of the popualation based on agriculture. In the period of 2001-2006 when UDF government was in the power, 532 farmers committed suicide in Wayanad district only. The drastic fall of the price of agriculture products resulted the mass suicide in the district. The callous attitude of the UDF Governments led firstly A K Antony and Oommen Chandy was widely criticised. The national media too criticised the animosity of the authorities. The demands for writing off agriculture debt were fallen in to deaf ears. No action has been taken by the then government to protect the distressed farmers. The callousness of UDF was paid heavily on them. UDF leaders were argued that no suicide took place because of Agriculture distress. Elections in 2006 showed a clean sweep by LDF in this Congress dominated district. It was the first time in the state’s history, all three seats, Kalpetta, North Wayanad and Sulthan Batheri were won by LDF with massive majority. The trust of the people of Wayanad was well addressed by the LDF Govrnment which came in to power in 2006 elections.
In the very first day the Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan announced that the debts of distressed farmers to be written off. In the first time of history the LDF goverment formed debt relief commission to ascertain the loss faced by the farmers. As per the recommendations of the commission, the goverment written of the debt. 42113 farmers benefited by this decision. Total 1,67,002 application were addressed positively. During 2006 to February 2011, debt amount Rs. 69.45 crores written off. But the whole measures taken by the LDF government were not followed up by the incumbent UDF government.
Tragic suicide of two farmers in Wayand in last week really startled the conscience of the Kerala. The shocking news came from Vellamunda and pulpally. C P Shashi from Vellamunda and Ashokan from Pulpally ended their lives on November 3rd and 5th respectively. These debtridden farmers committed suicide duo to the drastic fall of price of ginger and banana. Recent hike of fertiliser also deteriorated their distress. The rays of hope generated by the LDF government were shattered by the UDF. The sheild of protection given by the LDF government is taken away by the new government.
Suicide trend extends its wing; Two more farmers end their life
Suicide trend which spreads it wings from Wayanad to Kottayam claims two more lives of distressed farmers. On Tuesday one more farmer killed himself in Wayanad by consuming poison. The suicide of Vargheese(48) makes the death toll in Wayanad in to three within one week in this northern hilly district.
Today Kottayam, a Central Kerala district has shivered by hearing news of tragic suicide of paddy farmer P K Sreedharan (73) from Kaippuzha. Thus the distressed farmers’ death toll four month long UDF regime rose to four. The fourth Suicide death occurred in the district of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. (Earlier this week two farmers, Shashidharan and Ashokan both from Wayanad committed suicide.) Both farmers resorted to death as they failed to repay the agriculture loan. SBI and from Co-operative Bank in his locality had given Rs. 4 lakh loan to Sreedharan. But the crop failure made him a defaulter. He consumed rat poison to end his life. Varghese cultivated ginger and Banana in his 1.25 acres of land in Meppadi in Wayanad. The sudden rise of fertilizer and drastic fall of price made him defaulter, his close relatives said.
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