National Crime Records Bureau says over 200,00 farmers in Punjab have committed suicide since 1997 due to the fact that they are heavily in debt and unable to repay their lenders.
In 1984, Sikh Freedom Fighters that launched a movement for equal rights primarily came from the Majha District where Punjabi-Sikh Farmers were impacted by unfair government agendas, regulations and wages under a Government Policy called the Green Revolution, implemented by Indira Gandhi. These unfair and discriminatory policies remain in effect even today.
Today Punjabi farmers continune to struggle and are also going through a water crisis in which the Indian government has restricted water rights for irrigation, making it extremely inefficient and expensive for farmers to maintain their crops and land. This causes them to go into debt and fall into the vicious cycle of debt.
The Government has also allowed for the usage of unregulated pesticides and fertilizers to counterbalance the low productivity resulting in major health problems in the people of Punjab.
The land of five rivers, runs dry.
Every 2.5 Hours a Farmer in Punjab commits Suicide.
The clock is ticking… the movement is moving.