Farmer Suicides in Karnataka: 2024–25
Shocking Numbers
- Total farmer suicides: 971 cases in just one year (2024–25).
- Karnataka continues to witness a year-on-year increase in farmer suicides.*
- Top district: Haveri with 129 suicides.
- Other high-suicide districts:
Key Reasons Behind Suicides
- Rising costs of:
- Seeds, fertilizers, agricultural equipment.
- Crop failure due to poor weather, pests, or market conditions.
- Lack of scientific pricing for crops.
- Debt burden from:
- Banks
- Private moneylenders
- Self-help groups
- Inadequate access to interest-free loans.
- CIBIL scores affecting loan eligibility.
- Neglect from government on long-standing farmer demands.
Compensation Status
- Out of 129 suicides in Haveri:
- Compensation (₹5 lakh) given to 113 families.
- 16 cases pending due to FSL (Forensic Science Lab) reports and documentation issues.
Demands from Farmer Groups
- Scientific pricing for farm produce.
- Affordable and quality inputs (seeds, fertilizers).
- Interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh from DCC Banks.
- Remove CIBIL checks on agri-loans.
- Proper irrigation facilities.
Expert committee to study and prevent farmer suicides.
Asha Kirana Vision Centres
What’s New?
- 393 Asha Kirana Vision Centres launched across Karnataka.
- Part of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment.
- Centres are set up in public health facilities.
Main Objectives
- Improve access to eye care services.
- Create awareness about eye health.
- Focus on early detection and treatment of:
- Cataracts
- Uncorrected refractive errors (like myopia, hyperopia)
Inauguration & Remarks
- Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar inaugurated one of the vision centres at BBMP Multi-Speciality Hospital, Govindarajanagar, Bengaluru.
- He described the Asha Kirana programme as the “Government’s Vision Guarantee Project”.
Programme Background
- Previously, eye screening was done via:
- Asha workers
- Health department field staff
- Through door-to-door campaigns
Now restructured into permanent vision centres for better outreach and regular services.
