Over the past 15 months, a staggering 1,182 farmers have died by suicide in Karnataka, as revealed by the state’s revenue department. Based on the reports from India Today, severe drought, crop loss, and overwhelming debt were identified as the primary causes of these tragic deaths. The districts of Belagavi, Haveri, and Dharwad were particularly hard-hit, reporting 122, 120, and 101 cases, respectively, based on the reports from Namma Belagavi News.
The state’s revenue department documented that out of the 27 districts in Karnataka, 21 districts witnessed 30 or more farmer suicides. Only six districts reported single-digit cases, with Chikkaballapur and Chamarajnagar recording the lowest at two cases each. The crisis highlighted the dire situation faced by farmers across the state, exacerbated by financial distress and inadequate support systems.
Government’s statement over farmer’s suicide
Controversy arose in September 2023 when Shivanand Patil, Karnataka’s Minister for Sugarcane Development and Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC), suggested that the increase in farmer suicides was partly due to the government’s decision to raise compensation to Rs 5 lakh for the families of deceased farmers. Patil argued that this financial incentive inadvertently contributed to the rising suicide rates as families sought compensation due to financial distress from crop losses and unmanageable debt.
Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar responded to Patil’s remarks last year by questioning the classification of those who committed suicide as farmers, claiming, “Where are the suicides? Tell me. People who commit suicide for their own reasons, can we call them farmers? It’s all false.”
Karnataka Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvaraya Swamy directly blamed the central government for not providing funds during the drought season. However, he seemed unaware that the state government itself has not allocated sufficient funds for farmers, instead focusing on distributing freebies.
This response sparked criticism, highlighting the Congress-led government’s alleged neglect of the farming community. Critics argued that the government’s approach to offering compensation without addressing the underlying financial issues faced by farmers was deeply flawed. Instead of providing sustainable solutions and financial planning, the Congress administration’s reliance on financial handouts and freebies failed to address the root causes of the crisis, leaving farmers vulnerable to economic instability.
The plight of Karnataka’s farmers underscores the urgent need for comprehensive agricultural policies and financial reforms. Effective measures should focus on long-term solutions, such as improving irrigation systems, offering affordable credit, and providing better market access for agricultural produce. Only through such reforms can the cycle of debt and despair be broken, ensuring a more stable and prosperous future for the state’s farming community.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized Rahul Gandhi and the Siddaramaiah-led government on Tuesday, attributing the nearly 1,200 farmer suicides in Karnataka to the Congress party’s economic “mismanagement and looting” in the state.
Chandrasekhar remarked, “Meanwhile, people in Karnataka die due to Rahul’s Congress economic mismanagement and loot,” in response to a report by India Today.
The Karnataka government is currently under severe financial strain due to its extensive freebies, leading to funds being diverted from the budget allocated for scheduled communities also the fuel price hikes. The Congress government’s financial mismanagement, particularly the implementation of the Shakti scheme, has left little money for development projects. Consequently, farmers are suffering from mounting loans and lack of support. Despite this, the Congress government continues to deflect responsibility, placing the blame on the central government.
