Suicides Among Farmers in Punjab : A Socio-Economic Analysis of the Victim

A large number of suicides among farmers in India is a matter of serious concern. It is a clear indication of economic distress in farming sector. After the suicide committed by bread winner, the family members of the victim households have to face aftermaths. This book examines the plights of the suicide victim households in Sangrur and Bathinda districts of Punjab, post suicide period. The study covers both the cases of suicides due to indebtedness and suicides due to other reasons than debt. It is mainly based on primary data collected from 200 peasant suicide victim households. The study covers 30 villages of 6 blocks from both the selected districts.

The analysis of the victim households shows that economic and social conditions of suicide victim households have gone from bad to worse after the suicide by the bread-winner. As most of the families of suicide victims have lost their agricultural land, partially and wholly, and other assets to repay the loans. Money lenders are harassing the family members to recover the debt. In most of the cases, the responsibility of the survival of family is on the shoulders of wives and old parents of suicide victims. The 40 per cent of eligible household heads and family members are not getting any old age pension and widow pension. A large number of the respondents of the victim households have reported that they are facing social insecurity, as there is not even a single adult male member in the house. Children of the victim households have to dropout their schools.

This book with its detailed analysis of the suicide victim households and policy recommendations will be grate use to researchers and policy makers to understand the extent of the problem and to improve the economic condition of Farmers.