Suicide Prevention Day

September 10 is observed as Suicide Prevention Day throughout the world. But the day has had no significance for the farmers of India. Though India is on its way to becoming an industrial country, more than half the population is dependent on agriculture. Failed monsoons, extremely low prices for the produce and exploitative middlemen and hard-to-get loans, pushed farmers deeper and deeper into debts. Unable to face the situation, farmers have been taking their own lives. This phenomenon was brought to light by P. Sainath, an eminent journalist with a leading daily. Five regions have been the worst affected. With wide media coverage, state (regional) governments have been trying to tackle the situation, but the problem continues. The men farmers commit suicide, unable to bear the debt burden. But what future for the wife and children? Wife can work as a daily wage labourer and the family can sustain on a single meal a day. The children cannot go to school. And the cycle continues.