Maharashtra to launch mental health scheme to curb farmers' suicides

The state government has sanctioned an advance of Rs 7.6 crore to implement the scheme, known as 'Prerana Project - Farmers' Mental Health Service Programme'

In the wake of rising cases of farmers' suicides, the Maharashtra government has decided to launch a mental health scheme aimed at bringing down the number of deaths due to the agrarian crisis.

A government resolution issued here today said an advance of Rs 7.6 crore has been sanctioned for implementation of the special assistance scheme to curb farmers' suicides.

The scheme will be known as 'Prerana Project- Farmers' Mental Health Service Programme', the government resolution said.

The programme includes extension of the mental health wings in nine district and five sub-district hospitals in the state, it said.

It envisages roping in accredited social health activists (ASHA) and community health workers in efforts to reduce farmers' suicides.

As many as 628 farmer suicides have been reported so far this year in the Marathwada region, which has experienced the most deficient rainfall in the entire country.

The figure is already higher than the 574 cases recorded in Marathwada by the revenue department in 2014 and three times higher than the cases recorded two years ago.

So far, this monsoon, Marathwada has recorded a 53% rain deficit. Water sources are drying up with dam levels down to 8% of capacity. Five of its 11 large dams are at dead storage level and the kharif crop has faced extensive damage.

Out of the Marathwada's eight districts, four districts -- Beed, Latur, Osmanabad and Parbhani -- are the worst affected this year. The highest farmer suicide toll of 177 cases has been reported in the Beed district. Osmanabad has recorded 98 cases while Latur has reported 61. The district of Parbhani has reported 41 cases so far this year.