Debt ridden farmer commits suicide in Maharashtra

Thane, Dec 7 (ANI): A farmer on Monday committed suicide due to bad crops and under the fear of non-payment of debt taken from the moneylender in Maharashtra's Thane District.

The farmer was identified as Govind Patil, who had taken loan from a moneylender for growing crops.

Meanwhile, farmer's association has requested the government to waive off all debts of the deceased farmer.

"The farmer who has committed suicide, his all debts should be waived off and he should be compensated, I am requesting this on behalf of Kunbi Sena (Farmer Association)," Parag Pastey said.

Pastey also said that if the government will not take any firm and convincing steps the movement that they are launching soon would intensify by the course of time.

Recently, State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had announced Rs.1000 crores in relief for the farmers who suffered due to untimely rains.

Farmers' suicide cases in Maharashtra have been on a constant rise in the past. They have been facing a number of climatic and socio-economic problems in the region including heavy rain falls, harassment by moneylenders, inability to repay debts following crop loss, among others.

Maharashtra is India's biggest producer of Kharif crop and the second-biggest producer of cotton and soybean. Because of incessant rain in the past fifteen days farmers are now incurring huge loss. (ANI)