{"id":5838,"date":"2025-09-25T19:47:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T14:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=5838"},"modified":"2025-09-25T19:47:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T14:17:46","slug":"debt-trap-drives-48-farmer-suicides-daily-in-india-report-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=5838","title":{"rendered":"Debt Trap Drives 48 Farmer Suicides Daily in India, Report Reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ds-markdown\">\n<h2><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Debt and Despair: Report Highlights 48 Farmer Suicides Daily, Calls for Urgent Financial Reforms<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>New Delhi<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 In a stark revelation underscoring a deepening agrarian and financial crisis, a leading borrowers&#8217; rights body has reported that an average of 48 farmers commit suicide every day in India, primarily trapped by insurmountable debt. The All India Financial Borrowers Federation (AIFBF) has issued an urgent appeal to the central government for comprehensive, borrower-friendly reforms to stem the tide of tragedies and bolster the national economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">The alarming statistic was highlighted by AIFBF Chairman and Managing Director, Dayananda, during the organization\u2019s \u2018Empowerment and Awareness Programme\u2019. He attributed the crisis to lending practices where &#8220;the collateral sought by the banks is much more than the loan given and the interest rate is exorbitant, leaving the farmers and other borrowers in a debt-trap.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>A Call for Borrower-Centric Banking Reforms<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">The AIFBF has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, advocating for systemic changes that would make credit more accessible not only to farmers but also to women entrepreneurs and startups. Dayananda argued that such reforms are critical for India to achieve its ambitious $5 trillion GDP target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">\u201cThe interest rate is among the highest in the world, at about 16%, which makes availing a loan and repaying an unviable proposition,\u201d Dayananda stated. He contended that financial institutions would see improved repayment rates and a reduction in non-performing assets (NPAs) if they adopted a more viable perspective for the borrower, instead of levying high interest rates and exorbitant penalties that often lead to default.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Borrowers as Nation Builders Face Systemic Hardships<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Echoing the need for a supportive financial ecosystem, M.G. Balakrishna, President of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), underscored the vital role of borrowers as the engine of India&#8217;s growth. He described them as &#8220;nation builders, job creators, and taxpayers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">\u201cEvery great enterprise begins with trust, with credit, and with the belief that borrowed capital can be transformed into productive wealth,\u201d Balakrishna said. However, he highlighted the persistent hardships faced by borrowers, including &#8220;arbitrary decisions, lack of timely revisions, prolonged litigation, harassment, and unequal treatment before the law.&#8221; He noted that &#8220;many sincere entrepreneurs are trapped in financial distress through no fault of their own.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5840\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5840\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-5840\" src=\"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FKCCI-Borrowers-2-1024x554.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FKCCI-Borrowers-2-1024x554.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FKCCI-Borrowers-2-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FKCCI-Borrowers-2-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FKCCI-Borrowers-2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5840\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">To Curb NPAs and Suicides, Lenders Must Adopt Borrower-Friendly Model, Says AIFBF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">The FKCCI officially endorsed the efforts of the AIFBF, commending it for raising a unified voice on behalf of India\u2019s estimated 75 crore borrowers. \u201cWhen borrowers are aware of their rights&#8230; real change is possible,\u201d the FKCCI observed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Media Updates: +91-93531 21474 [WhatsApp] |\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mailto:indianowme@gmail.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">indianowme@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Closing the Trade Gap with Competitive Credit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Providing a macroeconomic context, AIFBF&#8217;s Dayananda pointed to India&#8217;s significant trade deficit with China. \u201cWe are importing Rs. 10 lakh crores from China, we are exporting 1.5 lakh crores and the deficit is Rs. 8.5 lakh crores. If we need to close the gap, the manufacturing sector has to be given easy interest loans and other incentives,\u201d he argued, positioning competitive credit as a key to boosting domestic production.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>A Unified Front for Borrower Protection<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">The event also saw calls for a collective support system for borrowers. Former Police Commissioner of Bangalore, Bhaskar Rao, emphasized that borrowers require robust support from chartered accountants, advocates, and organizations like the AIFBF to protect them from harassment and undue penalties by financial institutions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">The programme, which was also attended by FKCCI President-Elect Uma Reddy, concluded with a consensus on the imperative for collaborative action between industry bodies, civil society, and the government to create a fair and growth-oriented financial landscape.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"ds-message _63c77b1\">\n<div class=\"ds-markdown\">\n<h2><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Key Quotes on the Crisis and Reforms<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>By Dayananda, Chairman &amp; Managing Director, All India Financial Borrowers Federation (AIFBF)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On the Core Problem:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;The collateral sought by the banks is much more than the loan given and the interest rate is exorbitant, leaving the farmers and other borrowers in a debt-trap.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On Interest Rates:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;The interest rate is among the highest in the world, at about 16% which makes availing a loan and repaying an unviable proposition.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On the Economic Vision:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;If India has to achieve $5 trillion GDP target, it has to bring in largescale financial reforms.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On the China Trade Deficit:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;We are importing Rs. 10 lakh crores from China&#8230; If we need to close the gap, the manufacturing sector has to be given easy interest loans and other incentives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>By M.G. Balakrishna, President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On Borrowers&#8217; Importance:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;Every great enterprise begins with trust, with credit, and with the belief that borrowed capital can be transformed into productive wealth.&#8221; He underlined the vital role of borrowers, calling them &#8220;nation builders, job creators, and taxpayers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On Systemic Challenges:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;Many sincere entrepreneurs are trapped in financial distress through no fault of their own,&#8221; facing &#8220;arbitrary decisions&#8230; prolonged litigation, harassment, and unequal treatment before the law.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On the Role of AIFBF:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;When borrowers are aware of their rights, when they understand the framework of law and finance, and when they stand united under organizations like AIFBF, real change is possible.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>By Bhaskar Rao, Former Police Commissioner of Bangalore<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>On Needed Support:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;The borrowers needed all support, from Chartered Accountants, advocates and organisations such as AIFBF to protect them from harassment, undue penalties by financial institutions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_5838\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"5838\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Debt and Despair: Report Highlights 48 Farmer Suicides Daily, Calls for Urgent Financial Reforms New Delhi\u00a0\u2013 In a stark revelation underscoring a deepening agrarian and financial crisis, a leading borrowers&#8217; rights body has reported that an average of 48 farmers commit suicide every day in India, primarily trapped by insurmountable debt. The All India Financial [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[74],"class_list":["post-5838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-karnataka","tag-karnataka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5838"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5841,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5838\/revisions\/5841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}