India – a country whose economy is dependent on the agricultural sector, even today, it is unfortunate to know that there are thousands of farmers committing suicides everyday because their income is not sufficient to run their homes. It’s very convenient for us to blame the British for robbing us of our wealth, but on the other hand, isn’t it shameful that even after 69 years of Independence the farmers in India still don’t have access to electricity and water, some of the most basic things we get every day without even asking for it? Not only are the suicides committed due to financial problems, but the reasons for it also include monsoon failure, high debt burdens, genetically modified crops, government policies, public mental health, personal issues and family problems.
Isn’t it ironic that the ones who provide us bread every day, themselves go to sleep empty stomach? It strikes a chord in your mind when you hear pitiful cases of such suicides and it certainly did for Mr. Nana Patekar. Nana Patekar apart from being an iconic and influential Bollywood star, is also a very humble human being. In the time where all actors care about being in the spot light and concentrating on their wardrobes, what this actor did for the poor farmers is truly commendable!
When most of us, move on after hearing pitiful stories like these every day, Nana and Makarand Anaspure (Marathi Actor) finally decided to do something about it. Nana has been visiting widows of the farmers in Maharashtra to provide them financial assistance. Nana has so far visited 112 widows in Marathwada Beed and now he plans to interact with 700 more in Nagpur, Latur, Hingoli, Parbani, Nanded, Aurangabad, Usmanabad, Jalna, Bhusawal, Jalgaon, and other places in Maharashtra.
Not only does he provide them with necessary financial help, but he himself initiates a dialogue with them and has even made himself accessible towards them at all times.
When at a recent event in Maharashtra, he said to the farmers,
“If you ever think of committing suicide, please give me a call first,”
Patekar, along with Anaspure have donated Rs. 15,000 each to families of 62 farmers from Vidharbha region who committed suicide. However, Nana doesn’t think it’s a big deal. “I am not doing a big deal. All of us want to help, but most of us are not sure if the money we want to give will reach the right people. So, I decided to visit these people myself and help them,” he said in an interview with Mid Day.
“I just received a call from Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra chief minister). We have been friends before he became the CM. I can talk to him one on one. At the same time, I can go to farmers and talk to them. I am hoping my being a mediator will help,” He says.
On being asked on why the farmer issue, he replied saying,
“Right now, it is of utmost importance. Today, I heard someone committed suicide. If after 69 years of independence, we can’t provide water and electricity to people, it is ridiculous. Now the BJP has taken over, earlier there was Congress. We need to take these things seriously. I feel it is time for a revolution. If a farmer can kill himself, tomorrow he can kill you. Look at the level of his frustration. Beware, this situation could become dangerous. Their helplessness could turn into rage, they might turn Naxalites. You are creating that kind of a situation. Just give them electricity and water, which is their basic right. Come on, they provide you bread,”
When asked whether he is insecure about donating his hard earned money, he humbly replies,
“Paisa is a by-product. I will get it anyway. Rs 10 crore or Rs 100 crore won’t give me security. I feel secure by doing this. It is only a bandage on a huge wound. But in the process I am securing that human being that is still alive in me. Everyone will forget me if I stop acting in films. You won’t come to interview me, but I know that those people (farmers) will remember me for life,”
With Nana Patekar now coming forward, this issue should be dealt strictly, though the statistics show otherwise.
- In 2012, the National Crime Records Bureau of India reported 13,754 farmer suicides
- The highest number of farmer suicides were recorded in the year 2004 when over 18,000 farmers committed suicide
- Maharashtra is by far the epicenter of these suicides, with over 10,000 recorded between 2011 and 2013
- More than 3,000 suicides have been reported collectively from Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala in 2015
- In 2013, out of a total of over one lakh suicides, cases of farmer suicide were recorded at 8.7 percent. The number is 11,772
- It is said that every planting season, the farmers are forced to buy seeds, increasing poverty and indebtedness, which compels them to commit suicide
- A report by Dilasa Janvikas Pratishthan says that out of the 247 suicide cases, 75 percent had committed suicide due to the burden of unpaid loans
- The report by the NGO also said that 30 percent of farmers were between the age of 20-30 years, whereas the remaining were 30-40 years old
- Last year, over 5,600 farmers committed suicide, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Of this, 857 farmers took the extreme step due to bankruptcy and indebtedness
- Over all, from the year 1999 to 2003, 84,214 farmers committed suicides in India.
We really hope that the government gets up from its deep slumber soon and does not turn a deaf ear to the woes of the farmers anymore, or else India will have to face the wrath of the souls who were deprived of their very basic right of life.
(NEWS SOURCE – MID-DAY, INDIA TODAY)
