MUMBAI: In the last 12 years, more than 26,000 farmers committed suicide in the State, but the families of only half of them were eligible to get compensation from the government. 

According to the data of State’s Relief and Rehabilitation Department, 26,645 farmers committed suicide from 2006 to June 2018. However, the families of only 13,434 were eligible for rehabilitation and out of whom, 13,370 have actually received the ex-gratia.

Though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is claiming that his government gave a historical loan waiver to the farmers and curbed farmers’ suicides, the data from government department reveals that maximum suicides occurred during this government’s regime i.e. 10,682 farmers committed suicide from 2015 to June 2018. The number of farmers committing suicides has almost doubled during the period compared to the last few years. 

About 3,266 farmers committed suicide in 2015. Out of these, the families of 2,166 farmers were paid ex-gratia as they were found eligible. Whereas, 3,091 farmers committed suicide in 2016 and out of them, the families of 1,821 were found eligible for ex-gratia while 1,270 farmers’ families were ineligible. About 2,918 farmers committed suicide in 2017, while only 1,638 were eligible for ex-gratia and 988 were found ineligible. About 287 cases are still pending with the government and the inquiries are still on.

The family members of 1,611 farmers have been paid ex-gratia.

This year, 1,417 farmers committed suicide (as of July). In these 12 years, only 13,370 farmers’ families actually received compensation from the government and 615 more cases are still pending.