Jarad village, Jharkhand:
Farmers in Jharkhand have written a letter to the President of India and the Governor, requesting them to grant permission to commit suicide.
''We have written to the president and the governor that if the situation does not improve soon then we will go ahead and commit suicide,'' said Chandeshwari Singh, farmer.
One might dismiss this declaration as a mere publicity gimmick, however acute drought like situation in the region has forced these farmers to take the extreme step.
This is the second year of drought for these farmers. Two years of no crop, no rain, and no relief from the Government.
''The drought has affected the region for the last two years. How do we educate our children? We have no money. If we are not able to educate them then how will they survive?" says, Birsa Karmali, another farmer.
Jharkhand is grappling with a 42% rainfall deficit this year. All districts have already been declared drought-hit.
''I want to assure all farmers across the state that we are taking all steps to help them in these trying times,'' says M O H Farooq, Governor of Jharkhand.
But going by the desperation of the farmers, relief plan balm is not pacifying enough.
In a country, where farmer suicide is not a new term, more important is to understand why they take such drastic steps?