Wardha farmer warns of suicide over irrigation well subsidy pending for 27 months

Praveen Chaudhari, a farmer from Sonegaon in Wardha district, has not received the subsidy for his irrigation well for 27 months. More than two years have passed without the money arriving. Fed up with the administration's failures, Chaudhari had decided to end his life. The administration swung into action after a video of his warning spread on social media, and the matter began to be discussed.

Chaudhari had completed the work on a well sanctioned under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Even so, the subsidy due to him has not been credited to his bank account for 27 months. Because the subsidy did not arrive on time, he had to take a loan to dig the well, which added to his debt. He also suffered mental distress because of the slow functioning of the panchayat samiti. Exasperated, he made a video warning that he would end his life.

After the video went viral, the administration promptly called a meeting. It is said that local public representatives and senior officials reached Chaudhari's home at night to meet him. Steps have since been taken to sanction the stalled funds soon.

On September 22, Chaudhari had given a letter to the district collector's office. It said that if the money for the irrigation well did not arrive within seven days, he would end his life in the well.

Praful Lokhande, group development officer for Wardha district, said the well was sanctioned in March 2024. The layout was prepared in April and the regular muster rolls were issued in sequence. After the bill for skilled work was submitted in February, it was handed over on March 24, 2025. Funds did not arrive in December, and funds for 78 wells were still to come after that. Funds for four farmers of Sonegaon and Isapur were pending, including Praveen Chaudhari.

Chaudhari says he got the employment guarantee well in 2024. He applied for the money at the janata darbar of Guardian Minister Manoj Bhoyar. When Revenue Minister Bawan Kule visited the village on August 14, Chaudhari asked him why schemes for farmers are made if the money is not to be paid. He said that if the money was not received, he would decide to end his life. According to Chaudhari, Revenue Minister Bawan Kule then ordered that the money be paid, and the collector's office has assured him the money will come within a month.

MGNREGA is a central government scheme that guarantees rural households at least 100 days of employment a year. Under it, every adult member of a household is guaranteed at least 100 days of unskilled manual work a year. A rural Indian citizen above 18 years of age who can do manual labour is eligible.

The scheme is implemented through the gram panchayat, so workers get work in or near their village. Eligible workers receive a job card from the gram panchayat. Wages are credited to a bank or post office account within 15 days of the work. The scheme aims to reduce poverty and unemployment in rural areas, stop people's migration to cities, and create works in villages such as water conservation, roads, tree planting and afforestation.