Seeking PM’s permission to die

72 distressed farmers’ families from three M'rashtra villages are seeking Manmohan Singh’s permission to die in protest against the ‘casual’ approach of the Centre in not waiving loan. Pradip Kumar Maitra reports.

Seventy-two distressed farmers’ families from three Maharashtra villages in Bhandara and Gondia districts have sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s permission to end their lives in protest against the ‘casual’ approach of the Centre in not waiving loans to poor farmers who hold over five acres of land in the region.

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The families have penned their grievances in a letter faxed to the PMO and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. These farmers used to borrow money from banks and private moneylenders almost twice a year. But for two years now they have been facing hardships due to crop failure.

“Every crop loan borrowed for cultivation must be waived — at least for those farmers who are facing hardship,” said Chameshwar Gahane of Siregaontola village. “If our demand is neglected and the government does not come out with an announcement in this regard by end of next month, we will take the extreme step.”