The Truth About Indian Farmer Suicides

BY: Neeraja Kulkarni

Rupesh, a farmer in rural Karnataka, India, faced debt, employed laborers, and struggled with water scarcity impacting crop yields.

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Rupesh's hopeful gathering with laborers was disrupted by a sudden rainstorm, attributed to an "act of god" instead of climate change.

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Rain damaged harvest, mounting debt, and the looming shame of an unaffordable daughter's wedding burdened Rupesh.

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Farmers' suicides in India are underreported due to the politicization of data, raising concerns about justice and institutional bias.

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Suicide is a crime in India, but the Mental Healthcare Act exempts those under severe stress. Reporting obligations persist.

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Lack of data and stigma contribute to underreporting of farmer suicides, particularly among marginalized populations in India.

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Complex institutional architecture hampers farmer well-being data, affecting reporting and impeding progress in addressing suicide stigma.

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Data manipulation persisted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lack of farmer suicide data led to political blame games and subjective truths.

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