Debt trap: 18 months after Rajasthan farmer’s suicide, son ends life

JAIPUR: Eighteen months after his father committed suicide by consuming pesticides after failing to repay Rs 5 lakh farm debt, his 35-year-old son also killed himself in Sriganganagar district on Monday after he too could not clear the amount.
On Tuesday, around 300 farmers gathered outside Sriganganagar district collectorate demanding complete loan waiver and financial aid for the family of Mahendra Verma of Chaparwali village in Sardulshahar tehsil. They also submitted a memorandum to collector Madan Nakatey.
According to the protesters, Mahendra was shattered after getting a notice from a nationalised bank that his five bighas would be attached as the family failed to repay the loan.
“Mahendra consumed pesticide early on Monday and succumbed in the evening,” Amar Singh, secretary of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Sriganganagar, told TOI.
Six years ago, Mahendra’s father had taken a crop loan of Rs 5 lakh from a nationalised bank. “His father failed to repay the loan and was repeatedly getting notices from the bank. Around 18 months ago, he committed suicide,” Singh added.
Farmer groups including Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha, Sriganganagar Kisan Samiti and Jai Kisan Aandolon said Mahendra had recently received a notice of attachment of his land.
“He is survived by wife, three daughters aged 8, 10 and 13 and a 5-year-old son. We demand a complete loan waiver and some financial aid for the family of the deceased,” said Subash Sehgal, farmer leader and spokesman of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.
After the collector’s assurance, the family and farmers conducted the funeral of the deceased on Tuesday. “The district collector assured us that he will do the needful as per the government norms and will ensure all benefits under various schemes to Mahendra’s family,” Singh said.