Cause and Effect of Farmers’ Suicides in Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

The study examined the cause and effect of suicide on family members in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh, India. Suicide victims in this district in 2014 were highest among all districts of the state. Cases were examined based on production and market risk, sociological, psychological and other family related factors. Primary data were collected through survey and interview schedule while secondary data were gathered from the office of the Additional Director General of Police. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data. Out of 194 suicide cases, 50 were purposively selected as sample size. Results revealed that, prior to suicide, victims mingled with their own family members (64%) and neighbors/households friends (68%). It was also found out that major causes of suicide were family problems and commitments, followed by marriage related issues. Effect of farmers’ suicides showed that households had lost their major provider (38%), and had felt insecurity in the family (42%). The major causes of suicides prevailing were found to be social and farming related causes. Among these social related causes were found to be more prominent as compared to farming related causes. The prominent causes of farmers’ suicide in Chhattisgarh as recognised by the majority of the respondents were found to be family problems, illness drug abuse/alcoholic addiction, fall in social reputation, extra martial affairs and quarrel between victims and others. None of farmers was found to commit suicides due to poverty.