Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a farmers rally in Karnataka today as part of the farmer outreach programme. More than 1,000 farmers killed themselves in the state last year with Mandya district having the highest number.
One of those who died in Mandya was 62-year-old sugarcane, banana and vegetable farmer C Rajendra of Chinanahalli village. He died in debt last June leaving clear details of how much he owed and to whom. NDTV had visited the family then as they struggled to come to terms with events. Now 8 months on, they have received financial compensation - first Rs 2 lakh which was enhanced to Rs 5 lakh by the state government late last year. But debts remain.
Mr Rajendra's wife Sunanda said, "We have got 5 lakh from the government. First 2 lakh then a cheque for 3 lakh when Rahul Gandhi came. Now there is no water. We used to have bananas and sugarcane but we have taken all that out."
This family, like other farmers in this position, has requests to the prime minister and others in power.
Madhu, Mr Rajendra's son told NDTV, "If we could get a government job, a good job, it would really help. If we could get a good support price for what we grow - that is what I would ask."
This is one of the families that has received compensation. Many others have not - but for all those who have lost a family member under the stress of debt - how can life ever be the same?
One of those who died in Mandya was 62-year-old sugarcane, banana and vegetable farmer C Rajendra of Chinanahalli village. He died in debt last June leaving clear details of how much he owed and to whom. NDTV had visited the family then as they struggled to come to terms with events. Now 8 months on, they have received financial compensation - first Rs 2 lakh which was enhanced to Rs 5 lakh by the state government late last year. But debts remain.
This family, like other farmers in this position, has requests to the prime minister and others in power.
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This is one of the families that has received compensation. Many others have not - but for all those who have lost a family member under the stress of debt - how can life ever be the same?
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