Parbhani farmer's son dies by suicide after not getting new clothes for school trip

A farmer's son in Parbhani taluka has died by suicide. He is said to have wanted new clothes for an outing, but could not get them, and took the step for that reason.

The family was short of money. His farmer father had told him that he would buy the clothes once money came in after the soybean was sold. But even after the soybean was sold, the father did not receive the money on time. In this despair, the boy took the extreme step and lost his life.

The case has been registered at the Rural police station. The boy was declared dead at the police station, and a case of accidental death was registered. The report said this is not the grief of one family alone, and that it once again brings out the serious reality of the financial distress of farming families in villages and of farm produce not fetching a timely price.

Meanwhile, drought conditions persist in the state. Rainfall was low, and the rain that did fall was delayed. As a result, water and farming have been hit hard across most of the state, and farmers are facing drought.

The state government has declared drought in 265 of 358 talukas. About 74 per cent of Maharashtra is currently in the grip of drought. Districts of Marathwada, Vidarbha, North Maharashtra and the Pune division have been affected.

The 8 districts of Marathwada have recorded an average of 38 per cent rainfall, while the 11 districts of Vidarbha have recorded an average of 27 per cent. The situation in Yavatmal, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Nagpur, Amravati and Nanded districts is described as more worrying.

Water levels in dams and underground are falling rapidly. In some areas very little water stock remains. There are fears that the problem of drinking water and fodder will also become serious in the coming days.