PTI

New Delhi, Dec 12: The government on Friday said the number of farmers' suicide have dipped in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala, after the states were provided financial assistance of Rs 16,978 crore.

In order to address farmers' suicide in 31 districts spread over four states, the government had approved a rehabilitation package of Rs 16,978 crore in 2006. As on September 30, the government has released 99.8 per cent of the total package.

"Since the implementation of rehabilitation package, the number of suicide by farmers are showing a declining trend in most of the states," Minister of state for agriculture K V Thomas said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The incidents of farmers' suicide have declined to 75 in Andhra Pradesh as on November 15, from 519 in 2006. In Maharashtra too, the suicide cases have fallen to 144 from 575 in the review period, he said, adding the data for Karnataka and Kerala were, however, not available.

Thomas informed Parliament the reasons for farmers' suicide and also shared views of the Veeresh Committee in this context in Karnataka.

As reported by the states, the reasons for committing suicide are crop failure, drought, indebtedness and socio- economic conditions. However, the Committee has concluded that connecting the spate of suicides directly to any single cause would be erroneous, he said.