Dhamagaon (Maharashtra): Thirty-five debt-ridden cotton farmers in Dhamangaon, 200 km from Mumbai, have requested President APJ Abdul Kalam to allow them to commit suicide.
The cotton farmers say their crops have failed and they cannot repay the debts they have taken. In a letter to the President, they said: "We prefer ending our lives, as we can’t bear losses."
"We have asked for euthanasia from the President. I feel that this is the only way to awaken the administration from the deep slumber," said farmer Manohar.
Farmers say heavy rains and overflowing canals have damaged their crops. "All farmers suffer when the canal overflows. We have requested the administration to look into the matter but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. We cannot find any other solution so we have asked the government to let us die," farmer Rattan said.
According to official statistics, over 3,600 cotton farmers have already committed suicide in four western and southern States over the past five years.
The families have blamed lack of water for fields and inability to get bank loans that ultimately makes them fall into the clutches of moneylenders.
Activists and farmers' groups say as many as 18,000 farmers may have killed themselves.
However, the officials have urged farmers not to resort to such a drastic step as due attention will be given in their special cases.
"We will definitely make efforts to address their problems according to the set norms. We'll definitely help them but we request them not to take any such step," Sub-Divisional Officer, G W Surenge said.
Most of the suicides are reported from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka that are home to booming technology cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad and the prosperous State like Maharashtra.
Recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced release of over $ 400 million as a one-time grant, interest waivers and debt restructuring besides a one-year moratorium on loan repayments for eligible farmers.
But those who have borrowed privately are not eligible for government relief.
Economic reforms have added to the farmers' woes, with duties that protected them from heavily subsidised European and American cotton being phased out.
Their debts soar when crops fail due to poor rains or prices tumble.
Agriculture supports 600 million people, contributing a fifth of India's gross domestic product and accounts for only 12 per cent of bank credit.
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