Farmers ’ Suicides and Response

Lower yields, rising cost of cultivation, a mounting debt burden and dipping incomes of cultivators have plunged agriculture into a crisis of unprecedented scale, the consequences of which are not just economic. The economic trauma is translating into mental trauma, and the ever hardworking Punjabis, who have emerged stronger with each difficult period, are now being forced to admit defeat to the extent of ending their own lives. Farmers ’ organisations, political movements and even some state-led response to this crisis have not met with success. ANITA GILL, LAKHWINDER SINGH This paper attempts to examine the agrarian crisis, some of its consequences and alternative viable policy options with what we hope will be a fresh perspective. The paper is organised into four sections. Section I examines the emergence of the crisis of the agrarian economy of Punjab. The manifestation of the crisis in terms of nature, extent and causes of suicides by the agriculturists has been presented in Section II. Public policy as a remedy for this crisis, shortcomings of the public policy and possible alternative solutions have been analysed in Section III. Concluding remarks are presented in the last section of the paper. I Growth and Structural Chang