Two thousand farmers in India are eager to commit suicide.

2000 Indian farmers sign suicide pact
RANCHI—India is spending billions of dollars on its nuclear and military programmes but the condition of an ordinary Indian citizen is miserable. In a recent incident, after four years of drought, 5,000 farmers in Indian state of Jharkhand have signed a suicide pact. They are complaining that government is not taking any steps to improve their conditions and has in fact turned a blind eye to their plight. The failing monsoons and the burden of debt would drive scores of farmers to kill themselves.
These drought-prone farmers of Palamu district in Jharkhand could not find any other option but to sign a suicide pact to compel state government to pay attention to their miseries.
As per the details, farmers from the Chatarpur block, 170 west of Ranchi, have launched a signature campaign seeking permission to commit mass suicide. They have appealed Indian President Partibha Patil that they cannot lead a respectable life so they should be allowed to die in a respectable way. This is the fourth successive year of draught in Palamu – the district has received 8.6 mm of rainfall in June as compared to the expected 154 mm – and the farmers allege that they have been deprived of the benefits of government projects. It is pertinent to mention here that paddy is grown on around 48,000 hectare of land in the district. But, till date, the farmers have been able to sow seeds on just five per cent land. The scenario with maize is even worse.
It’s just about one per cent. Due to the same reasons they launched a signature campaign seeking permission to commit mass suicide. It is not only the Chatarplur area which is passing through such a disastrous situation, but similar situation prevails in other blocks like Lesleiganj and Satbarwa. These blocks had in the past have also reportedly witnessed hunger deaths. However, the state government as well as the centre is least concerned.

—Agencies