NABARD to train farmers to counsel distressed counterparts

Bangalore, Sep 25 (UNI) The NABARD has initiated innovative measures to discourage farmers from taking extreme step of ending their life, in five selected districts of Karnataka where large number of farmers suicides were reported, Chief General Manager Deepak B Gore, informed here today.

Speaking to newsmen after participating at the State Level Award function for best performed SHG-Bank Linkage and Farmer's Club programme here today, Mr Gore said that as a pilot programme, NABARD had trained members of Farmers Club in six affected districts in Karnataka working at villages to counsel their counterparts in distress due to mounting debts or crop failure.

Explaining about the initiative he said that the selected farmers had been provided training by professionals to console those who were contemplating to commit suicide. Such initiatives would be extended to all districts in Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh where Prime Minister's 'farmers' package' had been announced.

UNI