Thecla Pereira
It is a miracle that farmers in India still continue to grow crops when it is clear that it ultimately leads to their ruin and, sometimes, even their death.
India is not a country for farmers and the current unrest in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is yet another reminder of the misery farming has become.
The average household income of farmers, according to the last survey of farm households conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), is just Rs 6,426 per month. And just half of it comes from cultivating crops.
Farmer suicide have been increasing at an alarming rate. The need of the hour is to take appropriate steps to check the problems. Both state and the central government must look into the matter instead of blaming each other. Media can also play a good role. For example they can have a series of article emphasizing over the grave situation. A similar initiative was taken by ‘The Hindu’ in recent past. The increasing rise in the suicides also have social impact. Often when the farmer is not able to pay back to the farmer they are subjected just as the security is very important for our country so is the life of our farmer! The slogan of our visionary prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ had lost importance in the present scenario.
Successive governments offered only slogans and promises to mislead the farmers. These farmers are our friends after God and I hope our children are reminded of them when food is placed on their plates. God help our farmers. Those who work on small farms provide for their local communities and beyond. Their efforts are frequently met with struggle — farming is not for the faint hearted or weak in faith — with storms and droughts and all that can go wrong in an agrarian industry. But one thing I’ve found to be their trademark is generosity; if there is a sincere need, a farmer will do his or her best to share what food they can. Long live our farmers! And long live those who understand their struggles!
Today as I sat to pray I lifted up our farmers to God.
