Sustainable livelihood activities to widows of farmers who committed suicide due to agricultural distress in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra

Large number of farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. In Yavatmal district alone more than 6000 farmers have committed suicide in last decade and half. Efforts by various agencies to address the factors which lead to agriculture distress, principle cause of suicide, are underway over the years. However, the trend is continuing without perceptible reduction in number of suicides every year. The family of the deceased farmer suffers the trauma of loss of family head and faces many difficulties in managing affairs of the family. Widow of the deceased farmer has to face several problems in sustaining her family with children and dependent in-laws in many cases. The most of the compensation provided by the State Govt. is exhausted in meeting the liabilities and expenditure related to the last rites. Many families are not eligible for assistance due to their inability to meet the conditions like land is not in the name of deceased farmer which in many cases is in the name of his father or in the name of a lessor in case of share cropper, or not being a borrower of loan form bank. Banks do not entertain these women due to lack of credit history, enterprenual skills, lack of experience and inability to provide collateral. As a result, widow of the deceased farmer is vulnerable to exploitation of various kinds. The family suffers severe distress. Achievements : ▪ Accepted guardianship of 456 families of farmers who died by suicide in the districts of Yavatmal, Washim, and Beed, helping over 367 of these families move towards self-reliance through sustainable self-employment initiatives.

 ▪ The families under our care are now leading lives of dignity and self-sufficiency. 

▪ Our support has helped alleviate the deep despair these families experienced following their sudden and tragic losses. 

▪ We have facilitated education and employment opportunities for the children from these families.

 ▪ With growing self-reliance, many of these families are now returning to agriculture with renewed hope.