'Kerala government is responsible for my death'; farmer commits suicide in Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA: A farmer has committed suicide in Kuttanad due to overwhelming debt. The deceased has been identified as Thakazhi native KG Prasad (55), who is also the district president of Kisan Sangh. He had approached a bank for a loan for agricultural purposes. However, the bank did not sanction the loan as he had PRS loan arrears. Saddened by this, Prasad committed suicide.

Prasad committed suicide after calling Kisan Sangh district secretary over the phone and informing about his problems. The police have recovered a suicide note from Prasad's house. The one-page note begins by stating that the Kerala government was responsible for his death.

"The money I earned by shedding sweat was given as a PRS loan. The state government is solely responsible for repaying this loan with arrears. Banks are not giving new loans as the government made a lapse in repaying this. Saddened by this, I am committing suicide. Hence, the government is solely responsible for my death,' the note read.

Meanwhile, an audio clip of the phone conversation that Prasad had before committing suicide has surfaced. In the audio clip, Prasad can be heard telling his friend that he was a farmer who failed. He also said that he did not receive money after giving the paddy to the government and that he was denied a loan in the name of PRS arrears.

"I cultivated acres of rice and gave it to the government. However, the government did not give us money. I asked for a loan in return. But they said that they would not give the loan as I have PRS arrears. What can I say, brother? I failed. My life also failed. I had stopped drinking 20 years ago. But now, I started drinking again. Brother you must fight for me. I have sown three acres of paddy. I don't even have money to buy manure for it. When I gave them paddy, they gave me Rs 5 lakhs as a loan. I am now a debtor to the government. The banks will give me another loan only if the government gives this amount to the bank. Now, nobody will give me money," Prasad said.