 EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Sept 3: The Department of Sociology, University of Jammu today organized the IXth S C Dube Memorial lecture on the topic 'From Revolt to Suicide- Farmers Response to Changing Political Economy" by Prof. D. N Dhanagare, former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. and at present National fellow at Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
Expressing concern over growing number of suicides by farmers especially since 1997, Prof. D.N Dhanagare today called for evolving developmental strategy for restructuring development administration, policies, balance in trade off between industry and agriculture sectors and above all eschewing vote-banks out of morass.
Delivering the key-note address on 'From Revolt to Suicide- Farmers Response to Changing Political Economy', Prof Dhanagare said that a genuine decentralization and reinforcement of cooperatives could be a viable solution.
Dwelling upon the trend of suicides being committed by farmers, Prof. Dhangare said initially the suicides were reported from the cotton growing region of Vidharba where farmers took this extreme step due to indebtedness to money-lenders because of the shift to the Bt cotton.
He said the main causes include little credit available on very expensive interest, lack of expertise on conducting agriculture operations, scarcity of income to meet out the minimum family needs and lack of support system on account of essentials particularly health coverage to farmers and their families.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mohan Paul Singh Ishar called for evolving a viable strategy for addressing the concerns of the farmers and creating awareness for their economic emancipation so that they dont feel the sense of deprivation. |
