CH NEWS
RAICHUR
Crop losses, mounting debts and financial distress continue to push farmers towards the extreme step of suicide. However, families who lose their breadwinners are facing another battle while seeking government compensation, as existing eligibility rules are reportedly coming in their way.
In several cases, compensation is being denied on the grounds that the loan documents are not in the name of the farmer who died by suicide. As a result, families are left to cope with grief as well as the burden of repaying loans.The problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where the joint-family system continues to be prevalent. Land and other agricultural properties are often registered in the name of the father or an elder member of the family, while the actual responsibility of cultivation rests with the sons or other family members.
Recognition of a farmer-suicide case as eligible for compensation has wider implications for the bereaved family. Once a case is approved, the family is recorded in the district administration’s records as a victim family, enabling it to access various government assistance and welfare measures, including support related to the education and employment of children.However, families whose cases are rejected fear that they may be deprived not only of compensation but also of several other government benefits.Affected families have urged the government to reconsider the rules so that genuine cases are not rejected merely because of differences between the names of the actual cultivator, landowner and borrower.
According to the available district figures, 18 farmer suicides were reported in Raichur district during 2025-26. Of these, nine cases were found eligible for compensation, while nine were rejected.Taluk-wise, Sindhanur recorded 11 cases, Manvi two, Maski three, and Lingasugur and Sirwar one each.During 2026-27, three farmer suicide cases were reported in Sindhanur taluk. Of these, one case was found eligible for compensation, while two were rejected.
Minister in charge of drought assessment Dr Ajay Singh has assured that farmer-suicide cases registered and subsequently rejected during 2025-26 and 2026-27 will be reviewed.He said steps would be taken to provide compensation to families whose cases are found eligible during the review. The minister has also directed the Deputy Commissioner to re-examine the rejected cases and ensure that eligible families receive the compensation.
