NCRB Data on Farmer Suicides in India
Key points from the mind map:
- Statistical Trends: The NCRB data for 2022 shows a 3.7% increase in farmer suicides compared to 2021, with a total of 11,290 reported cases.
- Demographic Details: More agricultural laborers (53%) committed suicide compared to farmers/cultivators. The majority of suicides were by males.
- Regional Variations: Maharashtra had the highest number of suicides, with significant increases in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
- Contributing Factors: Drought, untimely rainfall, and climate change-related disasters are major contributing factors, along with economic challenges like stagnant incomes and increasing dependency on wages.
- Discrepancies in Reporting: Field data, especially from Punjab, suggests severe undercounting in NCRB’s data, with significant methodological concerns.
- Potential Solutions: The role of social protection programs like MGNREGS in mitigating climate vulnerability and providing support to the agricultural sector is emphasized.