Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Fides Service) - In the name of the sacredness of human life Caritas India, the largest national NGO of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), has devised an integrated programme "Save Farmers-Save India" to curtail the farmers’ suicide rates in the country. "An integrated approach to the development of the farmers' region includes sustainable natural resource management, effective micro-credit groups and empowerment of farmers in fighting the high suicide rates among the marginalized farmers", said Fr Varghese Mattamana, Executive Director, Caritas India. Suicide rates are high among poor farmers and young suffering from lack of confidence in the future, desperation, depression.
Cases of suicide among farmers unable to provide for their families, feeling useless and powerless are highest in the states of Maharashrra and Gujarat.
The executive director said the major focus this year of Caritas India would be among poor and marginalized farmers and the major part of its annual Rs 100 core would be spent on farmer's integrated development plan. "We are planning a large-scale intervention against farmers' suicides across the country based on our successful implementation of programme in Wynad district in Kerala, where we were able to contain farmers' suicides", Fr Mattamana claimed. He said more than 2000 poor and marginalized farmers in Wynad who had joined self-help group (SHGs) development plan of Caritas India did not commit suicide. Over 250,000 SHGs have been established among the marginalized communities across India, he said.
Suicide cases are also registered among young people in India where, according to a recent survey, 50% of high school pupils said they had considered suicide more than once and 5% had attempted suicide at least once. India is the Asian country with the highest percentage of youth suicides. The Salesian community in India is in front line to combat the tragic phenomenon. According to the Salesian news service ANS a Seminar on the issue was recently organised jointly by Prafulta Psychological Services, a Salesian organisation and the Indian Psychiatric Society in Bombay with the title “Suicide: the last frontier!”. A young person at the beginning of his life decides to commit suicide because he cannot deal with the sufferings of life, said the teachers and doctors attending the Seminar. A suicidal youth is one of most important challenges for the programmes of youth pastoral undertaken by the Catholic Church in India to help young people understand, appreciate and live life, God’s gifts and the beauty of interpersonal relationships. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2007 righe 26 parole 267 )
