Maharashtra: Drought in Marathwada forces woman farmer to commit suicide

A 40-year-old woman committed suicide by setting herself ablaze in the drought-hit Marathwada region on 5 September.

The deceased was identified as Manisha Gatkal, a farmer in Marathwada's Osmanabad. A mother of five, she doused herself with kerosene and took this extreme step due to lack of work and food.

Reportedly, her husband Laxman Gatkal in an interview to NDTV said "We are really very poor. There was no food. I had no work. When I got some work I went out. She latched the door and killed herself."

Manisha's brother-in-law said if Laxman had got work under NREGA, they would have had money and she wouldn't have killed herself.

This tragic incident has happened at a time when the state is facing a serious drought situation. Several farmers on the border of Solapur and Osmanabad district are hit by drought and are unemployed.

Recently, actors Nana Patekar and Makrand Anaspure had distributed cheques to provide financial aid to as many as 113 families of farmers from Latur and Osmanabad districts of Marathwada, who have committed suicide, due to the drought and large debts.

On 6 September, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited the drought-affected areas in Solapur district to take stock of the situation.

He visited Kurnur dam in Akkalkot tehsil in the district and interacted with farmers. He also visited Rampur and Kardehalli in the district and inspected 'Jalyukt Shivar' works.