Drought in Maha: Woman commits suicide after failing to find work

A 42-year-old landless agricultural worker allegedly committed suicide in Ahmednagar district on Thursday evening after she failed to get work due to the severe drought in Maharashtra.

The woman, Sangeeta Fasale from Chinchode Patil village in Ahmednagar taluka of the district, was frustrated as she and her husband could not get any employment over the last few months.

She is survived by her husband Ashok Fasale and a 24-year-old son who is a BEd graduate, but unemployed.

The Fasale family are landless labourers. According to Ashok, he and his wife would begin their day searching for daily wage work in their village and surrounding areas.

Since last July, the availability of work began reducing as the district had received less rainfall which adversely impacted agricultural activity.

Since January 2019, unemployment in Ashok’s village peaked and the Fasale family failed to get even 15 days of work in a month, he said.

Unable to manage household expenses and the cost of medicines, Sangeeta committed suicide out of frustration by hanging herself at home on Thursday evening, said Ashok.

However, Ahmednagar district collector Rahul Dwivedi said that drought was not responsible for the suicide.

“According to my information, drought is not responsible for this suicide case as the entire administration has swung into action to deal with drought condition in our district. Till date at least 700 water tankers and at least 400 cattle fodder depots have been started in the district in keeping with the needs of the local people.”

Nashik divisional commissioner Rajaram Mane said he has instructed the district administration to look into this case. Stating that assistance would be offered through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, he said, “Yes, drought is severe in Ahmednagar district, but we have enough water in our dams till the onset of monsoon. At least 700 water tankers are currently in use in Ahmednagar district to meet the water shortfall.”

According to ground water survey and development agency (GSDA), out of 54 talukas in Nashik division at least 52 talukas suffered depletion of groundwater by March end. At least 2,884 villages in the division have witnessed groundwater depletion of more than one metre. Of these 54 talukas, 27 talukas have experienced rainfall deficit of 30% to 50%.