141 farmers died by suicide in last 10 months, says Chhattigarh government

The government's statement came in response to a question by the leader of opposition in the assembly about the number of farmers who died by suicide.

Published on: Feb 27, 2021, 11:48:17 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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A total of 141 farmers died by suicide in Chhattisgarh in 10 months from April 2020 to February 1, 2021 due to different reasons, the state government told the legislative assembly on Friday.

The opposition BJP has demanded a probe into each case of farmer suicide and compensation to the families of the deceased farmers (Representational Photo/Getty Images)

Agriculture minister, Ravindra Chaubey gave the figure in a reply to leader of opposition Dharmlal Kaushik’s question on the number of farmers’ suicides April 2020 and February 1, 2021 in the state and what were reasons for them.

Subsequently, the opposition BJP demanded a probe into each case and compensation to the families of the deceased farmers.

Chaubey in his reply to Kaushik said, “In a case of suicide by farmer, Dhaniram Markam, of Kondagaon district, the Patwari (lower level revenue officer) Dongar Nag was suspended for allegedly committing mistake in crop girdawari and (land) record documentation.”

Kaushik responded by saying that while a large number of farmers have died by suicide in just 10 months, only a patwari has been suspended in one case in the name of action.

“I demand that all such cases of suicides be probed and the family members of such farmers should be compensated,” said Kaushik.

Congress MLAs pointed out that the previous BJP government in Chhattisgarh had not paid any compensation to families of farmers who died by suicide.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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