• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , May 12

THE total number of `genuine' farm-related suicide cases stands at 799 during first year of Congress rule in the State.

The drought-hit Mahboobnagar recorded the highest number, at 91. Kurnool recorded 90 cases and Karimnagar district 82.

Vizianagaram, yet another economically backward district, stood last in the list with one suicide.

Officials, however, said that the `genuine' list was tentative and the final tally would be known only after verification by the three-member committee set up by the Government.

Some 650 cases were found to be not genuine. They were incidents not directly related to farm issues, according to Dr V.P. Jauhari, Special Chief Secretary (Revenue).

Kin of 702 farmers who committed suicide have received help from the Government. It included a financial assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-gratia), free education to children, old age pensions, and economic support through other Government schemes.

A total of Rs 30 crore had been disbursed so far towards ex-gratia payments. Kin of about 160 families were given self-employment opportunities. Releasing the list of genuine suicide cases during July 1, 1998 and May 13, 2004 (the revenue records refer to these cases as `pre-cases'), the Revenue Secretary said that 1,381 genuine cases were identified and kin of 1,315 got financial relief under GO No 421.

He also said that a large number of cases were not registered anywhere, as there was no scientific way of recording such suicides.

The Government, however, said that the frequency of suicides had drastically come down in the second half.

"In the first six months, an average of 30 deaths were recorded every week. There has been a sharp decline in the later period," Dr Jauhari said.

After the 30th week, the number did not cross double digits. Ten weeks later, the figure further declined with only one death recorded. This was a result of a series of measures taken by the Government, he said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Panic over monsoon projections unwarranted

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line