Farmer suicides return to haunt Siddaramaiah govt

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The haunting spectre of farmers’ suicides has reared its head once again in the state, posing a daunting challenge for the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

According to recent information, the state has witnessed a distressing surge in farmer suicides, with as many as 42 farmers tragically ending their lives in the last two months. The primary cause of these tragic happenings is the failure of crops, exacerbated by a disappointing monsoon season.

Farmer suicides are not unfamiliar to the Congress government in Karnataka. During the previous tenure of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, between 2013 and 2018, the state experienced a staggering number of over 1500 farmer suicides, a dark chapter that continues to cast its shadow over the current administration.

The then AICC President, Rahul Gandhi, had taken cognizance of the gravity of the situation and visited the volatile Mandya district to assess the conditions on the ground and engage in consultations with key stakeholders.

In the past, this sensitive matter proved to be fertile ground for the Opposition, particularly the BJP and JD(S), to attack the Siddaramaiah government for its perceived failure to address farmers’ plight and provide viable solutions to alleviate their misery.

The resurgence of farmer suicides in recent times has become a stark reminder for the present Congress government to act swiftly and decisively.

With over 40 farmers ending their lives in the past 60 days, there is an urgent need for the administration to take effective measures to assuage the feelings of the distressed farming community. Geographically, the majority of the reported suicides have occurred in Haveri district, followed by Dharwad, and other areas, reflecting the all pervasive nature of the crisis.

Experts are now warning that if immediate action is not taken, this distressing trend might escalate into more suicides. While the farming community grapples with despair and loss, the Siddaramaiah government has been preoccupied with fulfilling its five guarantee schemes.

Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy, minced no words in his criticism of the Siddaramaiah government’s handling of the farmer suicide issue. He accused the Congress Party of trivializing the matter.

The onus is now on the Siddaramaiah-led government to break the cycle of despair A former vice-chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences told News Trail that the government must demonstrate a proactive approach by prioritizing the welfare of farmers.

Addressing the root causes of the crisis and implementing sustainable solutions will alleviate the suffering of farmers, he felt.