The farmers claim that the crop insurance scheme has failed them as the payments are not being cleared on time.
While the government is banking on its relief measures to support distressed farmers in drought-hit Marathwada, the delivery of schemes such as crop insurance depends on the local administration.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced last week that the government will give 50% amount of what farmers would have got had they insured their crops. Mr Fadnavis said that the government has released Rs 1,000 crore through a GR and this will help farmers grow cotton and soyabean.
However, the farmers claim that the scheme has failed them as the payments are not being cleared on time.
For three years, 49-year-old Arun Jadhav toiled on his fields in Nandurghat village in Beed district hoping to repay a part of the loan he had taken. But with the failing monsoon nothing remains of his crops.
He committed suicide in April last year after failing to receive the crop insurance money on time. "He used to visit the bank but he committed suicide as he did not get his money on time. Had he got his money, he wouldn't have done this," his wife told NDTV.
Arun Jadhav's nephew Ramesh Jadhav said that he made several requests to the local administration to release Rs 11,000 as he had a loan to repay. However, the amount was released after he committed suicide.
"They did not settle the crop insurance on time. It came after eleven months. Even the compensation that has come has not been released. If this situation continues then this year will be worse than last year. The attitude of the administration is pushing farmers towards suicide," Ramesh Jadhav said.
Mr Fadnavis and his entire council of 28 ministers toured Marathwada last week to assess the ground situation.
"The situation changes only for the day when the minister visits. If the local administration works like they do on the day the ministers come, then farmers will get relief," Ramesh Jadhav said.
The only hope for the farmers is the cattle shelters which get regular water supply.
"Because there is no water, the farmer can't get anything out of his fields. The only solace are the animals which can help farmers survive by selling milk," animal shelter administrator Anand Jadhav said.
While the government makes promises that sound good on paper, it is the poor implementation that is driving farmers to suicide.