11 farmers end lives in India

Drought in Gujarat, western Indian state, has started taking its toll on farmers as 11 farmers in Saurashtra region alone have committed suicide in one month, even as the Narendra Modi government remains in denial, Indian media reported on Thursday.
“In seven districts of the region, almost 80% crop has failed. Very few farmers have irrigation facilities to sustain their crops without rains. Narmada canals have not been built in the interiors,” said Ramnikbhai Patel, a farmer from Babra in Amreli district. He says, the cotton crop in his 15 acre farm dried, which pushed him to cultivate jowar for fodder.
Of those who committed suicide, four each belonged to Amreli and Rajkot districts, two to Jamnagar and one to Junagadh.
“Saurashtra is, however, the worst hit because crops have already failed and, fodder and drinking water, too, are not available,” a senior secretary in the state government said.
Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu does not agree. “I don’t think farmers are committing suicide because of the state government’s action or lack of it,” he said. Agriculture minister Dilip Sanghani echoed similar sentiments.
Meanwhile, junior home minister Praful Patel has reportedly instructed the police to not mention “crop failure as the reason for farmer suicides”.
The Congress has called this approach insensitive.
“Despite our constant demand, this shameless government is not doing anything to ease the situation,” said Gujarat leader of opposition and MLA from Bhavnagar Shaktisinh Gohil. “This government works only for certain industrialists.” He announced Rs 1 lakh aid for each of the 11 families.