It is tragic
I am quite shocked to learn from news reports that over dozens of debt-laden poor farmers in India have committed suicide in the past two months as they couldn’t grow their rice, wheat and potato crops due to heavy downpours with hail storms. It is heard that suicide is common among poor Indian farmers who borrow money at high interests depending on the return from only a single crop.
The present Modi government has taken some pragmatic steps to improve the life of the farmers. But it is really unfortunate that farmers are committing suicide in the fear of loan re-payment. I strongly feel that the Indian government should adopt some special policies to protect the poor farmers. They can bring the farmers under crop insurance. The government needs to make the poor farmers feel sound and secure.
Professor M Zahidul Haque
SAU Dhaka
