Govt vague about number of suicide cases in Punjab

Jalandhar: Despite the heated debate on farmer suicides, the state government does not have a clear idea about the number of such cases reported in Punjab. Information procured under RTI revealed a mismatch between farmer suicide statistics put forth by three universities after a survey and information provided by the deputy commissioners of 18 districts.
In his RTI application, activist Parvinder Singh Kitna sought detailed information from the additional chief secretary (ACS, revenue) about the number of suicides and compensation provided to relatives of the victims from January 1, 1995 till date.
The office of the ACS directed the queries to the revenue, rehabilitation and disaster management department. They provided copies of the policies but asked him to seek information on the number of suicides and the compensation given from deputy commissioners.
Earlier, a survey conducted by three universities said there were 4,687 cases of suicide by farmers and farm labourers over a span of 12 years - from 2000 to 2011. According to the figures provided by DCs, there were 2,632 suicides by farmers and labours in 18 districts over a period of 21 years from January 1995 till recently.
While the districts of Bathinda, Sangrur, Fazlika and Kapurthala did not provide information, data provided by 18 districts pegged the number of suicides at 2,632.
A DC office sent a letter by the revenue, rehabilitation and disaster management department, dated October 22, 2014, according to which Punjab chief minister held a meeting with farmers' organizations on September 11, 2012 on the issue of compensation of Rs two lakh to families of debt-ridden farmers and farm labourers and also to give employment to one of their kin. The letter revealed that in the meeting financial commissioner (revenue) said the survey by different universities showed that from the year 2000 to 2011, these were 2,944 cases of suicide by farmers and 1,743 cases of suicide by farm labourers (total 4,687).
"This figure of 12 years is way higher than what the information provided by DCs of 18 districts suggests," said Kitna, adding, "It is clear that the government machinery was not properly collecting and maintaining proper data of farmers."
Compensation for 7 of 108
In Moga, 108 people applied for compensation but only seven were found suitable. Information received from Moga revealed that the district administration received 108 applications for compensation for farmers' and farm labourers' suicides from April 1, 2013 to July 27, 2015 but only seven were found "suitable" for compensation after verification. The letter, dated February 26, 2016, claimed that no record of suicides was available before this date (that is April 1, 2013).
Kin of unmarried farmers not entitled to compensation
Information received from Ferozepur district showed that in two cases, farmers died unmarried, so compensation could not be given to anyone, as per government directions. In one case, the victim's family shifted and was yet to be found. In another case, the word, "untraceable" has been mentioned. Information supplied by the DC office, Faridkot also provided a list given by a farmers' union which revealed that in Aulakh village, 18 farmers committed suicide and in Jioonwala, 12 farmers ended their lives.
Most suicides in Mansa
Out of the 18 districts which supplied information, Mansa tops the list with 1,334 suicides followed by Ludhiana with 638 suicides. In Doaba, the number was low as compared to Malwa and Majha regions. Pathankot happens to be the only district where no debt-ridden farmer or farm labourer committed suicide.