A farmer's 55-year-old widow committed suicide in Yavatmal district's Pimpri Buti village, barely 100 days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met her and assured of his government's support, official sources said here today.
"According to a our preliminary inquiry, Shanta Tajane's husband had committed suicide four years ago and she had a debt of Rs 1 lakh. She is survived by two boys and a daughter who is married," Yavatmal's Resident Deputy Collector Rajesh Khawale told PTI.
Khawale said that she committed suicide on June 10.
Incidentally, on May 3 this year, Fadnavis had visited her while he toured Ratchandana, Ghorkhindi and Pimpri Buti villages in Yavatmal district.
"When the CM met a group of farmers' widows in Pimpri Buti village, Shanta Tajane was one of those who met him," Khawale said, adding that he was unaware about the conversation between the two.
According to farmers' advocacy group Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti convenor Kishor Tiwari, Shanta Tajane had demanded a well, a motor pump and an electric connection from the government.
"After her (Tajane's) husband expired, she got aid worth Rs 1 lakh, out of which Rs 30,000 was given immediately, while Rs 70,000 were deposited in her bank account.
She was not able to withdraw this cash since she was not guided on formalities to do so. So, after getting frustrated, she ended her life," Tiwari said.
According to reports, the total number of farmers' suicides this year has exceeded 1,000, and while the Maharashtra state has government has acknowledged these figures, officials have questioned if all suicide cases are related to the agrarian crisis.
