Tragic farmer suicides in Telangana: A tale of despair and unfulfilled promises
Lack of government assistance, mounting financial burden compounded by family struggles are leading to tragic outcomes in Telangana's farming community
Hyderabad: Pinireddy Gudem in Garla mandal of Mahabubabad district is surrounded by endless stretches of chilli farms. Leaders from peasant bodies, social activists and media persons have been making a beeline to the village of the late Bhukya Badhru, a tenant farmer who ended his life by suicide on December 6.
Badhru’s widow, Chitti (30), is now left without any financial support as the disability pension does not automatically transfer to the spouse in Telangana.
Last year, chilli cultivation brought prosperity to many farmers in the region, with prices soaring to over Rs 21,000 per quintal. Encouraged by the success of his fellow farmers, Badhru decided to take on lease four acres of land — three for chili cultivation and one for cotton. He secured the land by offering Rs 1,500 more than the standard rate of Rs 25,000 per acre, putting all his resources at stake.
A suicidal lure
However, this year, his fortunes turned. The chilli crop, which once promised a fortune, became a bane. Badhru faced financial losses due to a pest infestation that devastated his crops. He had invested heavily in pest control measures and farm activities, accumulating a private debt of up to Rs 6 lakh.
Unable to cope with the mounting financial burden, Badhru consumed pesticide and ended his life on December 6. He had two daughters, whom he believed would have a better future through education. To fulfil this dream, he enrolled them in private hostels, one in Hyderabad and the other in Mahabubabad. His wife, Chitti, now reduced to the status of a farm worker, is finding it difficult to support their studies.
Tenant farmers like Badhru are often excluded from government support schemes, making their situation dire. Adding to his struggles, Badhru was born mute and deaf, and his disability pension was previously the only source of income for the household. Without any land of their own, Badhru’s family was also ineligible for the Rythu Bima insurance scheme.
Badhru’s widow, Chitti (30), is now left without any financial support as the disability pension does not automatically transfer to the spouse in Telangana. She had applied for a widow pension two months ago, but received no response from the officials. No local officials, including the Mandal Revenue Officers, have visited the family.
Succumbs to insurmountable odds
The ordeal of Katravula Sambhamurthy, a young farmer of 26 years from Tirumalagiri village in Atmakur mandal in Hanamkonda district, highlights the severe plight faced by many farmers in the region. Struggling against insurmountable odds, Sambhamurthy succumbed to his circumstances after battling immense difficulties in raising cotton on nine acres of leased land.
Katravula Sambhamurthy succumbed to his circumstances after battling immense difficulties in raising cotton on nine acres of leased land.
Sambhamurthy had taken the land on lease from a local farmer, investing heavily in cotton cultivation. Crop failure left him with a staggering loss of Rs 4 lakh. Unable to cope with the mounting financial burden, Sambhamurthy tragically ended his life by suicide almost four months ago. Despite the passage of time, there has been no sign of any government assistance for his grieving family.
His wife, Ramya, is now left to fend for their two young children, both under the age of three. In her desperate quest for help, Ramya reached out to local revenue officials, only to be met with disappointment as Sambhamurthy’s name was missing from the list of farmer suicides. The family owns no land, making them ineligible for any assistance, including Rythu Bima.
Cost of distress and despair
The story of Myaka Srinivas, a farmer from Himmathnagar in Veenavanka mandal, is a tale of despair and unfulfilled promises. After his untimely death over a year ago (on December 22, 2023), his family continues to wait for support from the government, which has yet to come.
After Myaka Srinivas’ untimely death over a year ago, his family continues to wait for support from the government.
Srinivas had leased seven acres of land for farming, but the crop failure left him with a crippling debt of Rs 8 lakh. Unable to repay the loans, he took the extreme step of ending his life. According to protocol, a three-member official committee should have visited the family to offer condolences and support, but no such gesture was made, even after more than a year.
His wife, Latha, is now left to shoulder the burden of supporting their two young children, 10-year-old Tejaswi and three-year-old Peasanna. She earns a meagre wage of Rs 300 a day as a farm labourer, which is insufficient to meet the family’s needs. The financial strain is further compounded by the costs of her children’s education.
Dreams shattered
Muska Saidaiah, a 45-year-old farmer from Bonthupalli in Veenavanka mandal, had dreams of a bright future for his children. His daughter, excelling in her Intermediate studies, aspired to become a doctor, while his son aimed to pursue higher education. However, Saidaiah’s hopes were tragically cut short.
Despite his relentless efforts on the farm, trying every farm practice that promised better yields, Saidaiah found himself in a dire situation. His farming practices left him with mounting debts, and he ultimately took his own life by hanging himself from a tree on his farm. He left behind his wife Renuka and their two children in despair.
During the 10-year rule of the BRS, the family had never faced difficulties in securing support for crop investment and their children’s education. However, the expected support became elusive during the 15 months of Congress rule. The lack of assistance compounded the family’s struggles, leading to this tragic outcome.
