Uttar Pradesh: Unable to repay loans, Bundelkhand farmers committing suicide

Farm distress is getting worse by the day in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Drought continues and is aggravating plight of the farmers. Debt-ridden farmers here are taking extreme steps as recovery notices from banks against unpaid loans pile up in their homes.

Lala Shrivas, 65, committed suicide early this month seeing no means to repay loans that he had taken for cropping. The family now finds it hard to deal with double whammy of drought and death.

"My father committed suicide on July 14 hanging himself from a tree. He had taken loan of Rs 70,000 few years back for farming from a bank. There has been drought in the region for long. Crops failed. But his debt kept increasing. Recently, the bank served him notice to repay the loan amount with interest. Left with no other option, he decided to end his life," said Rakesh, the son of Lal Shrivas.

Farmers in Bundelkhand region are badly hit by an unending spell of drought. Spread over more than a dozen districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Bundelkhand is one of the regions that are facing drought situation for years in the country. Crop failure is routine here.

The loan waiver scheme brought by the Yogi Adityanath government in 2017 helped lakhs of farmers in Uttar Pradesh. Yet, a major section couldn't avail the benefits and continue to reel under severe crisis.

Tightening debt-trap

Farmers in Banda district said they are living in fear after getting notices from banks to repay their loans along with interest amount. They said banks serve notices even in the name of those farmers who have died.

"My nephew Sukhram had taken a loan of Rs 1 lakh from the Aryavart Bank in 2011. He died after suffering a heart attack but the bank recently sent a notice demanding repayment of Rs 3,20,000 including interest," said Lallu Singh, a farmer from Dashrathpur Mungaura village in Banda.

"We are cursed with the problem of drought. It will not be possible for us to repay the amount. If the bank continues to pressurise us, we will be left with no other option than taking our own lives," said Lallu Singh sharing his worst fears.

Another debt-ridden farmer Ram Shankar said, "Drought is not the only problem at present. Whatever farming is done by us is being destroyed by stray cattle. The bank employees threaten us to either pay the loan amount by selling our land or face jail term."

"It's difficult for us to earn single meal a day. We are not in a position to pay any money to the bank. We appeal to state government to waive off our debts," he said.

Series of suicides

This appeal comes in the backdrop of suicide by farmers. On July 16, 57-year-old Ram Kishore, a farmer of Brahmadera village in Banda, committed suicide. He hanged himself from a tree after he was served a recovery notice by the local Gramin Bank.

His brother-in-law Ram Sevak said, "Ram Kishore had a loan of Rs 5 lakh from bank and private lenders. He also sold half of his agricultural land from his five bigha property to clear a part of the debt."

Farmers in Bundelkhand complain that despite crop failure and continued spell of drought, they are getting notices from banks for repayment of loans. (Photo: India Today)

"Ram Kishore failed to pay electricity bill for three years. He was served notices by electricity department for the same. His land had turned non-productive forcing him to work as a daily wager," said Ram Sevak.

At least 15 debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide in July in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. Two farmers each have ended their lives in Hamirpur and Mahoba districts this month. All were in the trap of debt.

What does bank say and do?

The Aryavrat Bank, on the other hand, denies threatening farmers over recovery of loans. However, it raised concern over non-payment of loans by the farmers.

Speaking to India Today, regional manager of Aryavrat Bank, OP Singh said, "We only issue recovery notices as per the procedure. We are not auctioning their land or sending them to jail."

"In case anyone is unable to repay loan, the bank prepares a report and sends it to the government to decide future course of action. However, more than 59,000 farmers, who have taken loans from the bank, owe around Rs 795 crore," Singh said.

"The state government has waived off loan of up to Rs 1 lakh but many farmers, who have taken loan from multiple banks, do not fall under the loan waiver category. Those who have taken a higher amount will obviously not get the benefit," he said.

Santosh Bahadur Singh, additional district magistrate of the Banda district, said, "Farmers committing suicide is a matter of huge concern. I have personally met the bereaved families in some cases where other reasons were also responsible for the suicide. The stray cattle menace is also a big issue here. We want public to support us in overcoming the problem."

Opposition versus government over farmers' suicide

Meanwhile, the Sehkari Gram Vikas Bank has issued notices for auction of properties of the farmers in different parts of the Bundelkhand region to recover loans. This has given the Opposition a fresh opportunity to target the Yogi Adityanath government.

"This government has failed to benefit the farmers in the Bundelkhand region which is the worst affected. We will raise this issue in both state assembly and Parliament so that their demands are fulfilled," said Ajay Kumar Lallu, the Congress MLA and leader of party in UP Assembly.

However the ruling party claims that the issue of suicide by farmers in Bundelkhand is being investigated. UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, "The Yogi Adityanath government has provided loan waiver benefits to 86 lakh farmers which is highest in the country. Our government is devoted to improve lives of the farmers. If such incidents are happening we will certainly get them investigated and take necessary action."