CHANDIGARH: Heavy debt burden accounted for 88% of farmer suicides that occurred in Punjab between 2000 and 2018 - a period that witnessed 9,291 deaths -- finds a new study based on a primary survey by the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU). Of these, more than 77% were those of marginal and small farmers.
The study was aimed at an objective assessment of the incidence and causes of suicides by farmers in the districts of Barnala, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga and Sangrur. Among these, Sangrur reported the highest number (2,506) of suicides during the 18 years, followed by Mansa (2,098) and Bathinda (1,956). Overall, the number of suicide cases was the highest (630) in 2008 and then registered a decline, which could be due to the 'Debt waiver scheme' announced by the Centre that year.
