Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
4. Examine the factors behind increasing cases of farmer suicides. What are the policy measures that are needed to prevent them? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The number of suicides by farmers in India continues to be high. Maharashtra, which traditionally held the top slot among all states, reported 2,366 suicides by farmers during the first 10 months of 2023.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about causes of farmer suicides and measures needed to prevent them.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic regarding farmer suicides in India.
Body:
First, write about the causes of farm suicides – Low per capita land, indebtedness, high loan rates, high costs of production and labour, inability to pool up resources, need for hiring labor due to shortage of time, low agriculture products prices and low MSPS, decreasing water tables and increasing costs of pumping water out, economic exploitation by dealers selling agriculture equipment, seeds, fertilizers etc.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to prevent farmer suicides.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
