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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony)...

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony) organized by the BJP Kisan Morcha at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan on Wednesday, Fadnavis declared that farmers using agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 horsepower will see their historical electricity dues completely wiped out. The announcement was met with the traditional sounding of the Tutari and thunderous applause from hundreds of farmers who had gathered from every corner of the state. The Chief Minister framed the mega-sop as a necessary step to “wipe the farmers’ slate clean,” enabling them to write a new chapter of prosperity. Calculated Pitch The timing and scale of the announcement underscore a government that is boldly embracing populist economics to solidify its political footprint in rural Maharashtra. While Fadnavis maintained that these decisions were taken purely in the interest of the farmers—pointing out that the original loan waiver was announced when no elections were in sight—the political undertones were unmistakable. Taking a sharp dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister accused rival parties of running “political shops” in the name of farmer agitations without understanding the government’s genuine intent. Asserting his grassroots connection, Fadnavis proudly claimed, “I do not make decisions sitting in my house. I am a farmer myself, a man of the soil.” He openly defended the government’s recent move to strip away the stringent conditions attached to the blanket farm loan waiver, signaling that his administration will not hesitate to clear bureaucratic hurdles if it means putting money directly into the hands of the rural voter. Balancing Sops Even as he rained freebies, the Chief Minister attempted to balance the populist optics with a dose of economic pragmatism. He acknowledged that handing out repeated loan waivers is a symptom of deep-rooted agrarian distress, not a permanent cure. Pointing to the Rs 95,000 crore in aid currently being pumped into the agricultural sector by the state and central governments, Fadnavis outlined his administration’s shift toward an investment-driven agricultural model. He championed the success of schemes like ‘Jalyukt Shivar’ and ‘Magel Tyala Shettale’ (farm ponds on demand), claiming these initiatives have already empowered farmers to harvest multiple crops a year. Addressing the core issue of farming costs, he noted that the government already subsidises power to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore annually. By coupling this with a push for solar pumps and solar agricultural feeders, he promised that 100 percent of the state’s farmers would receive uninterrupted daytime electricity by the end of the year. Infra Dream Looking beyond immediate financial relief, the Chief Minister laid out a grandiose vision to permanently drought-proof Maharashtra’s most vulnerable regions. A staggering Rs 6 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline is being planned to ensure the next generation never witnesses a drought. Fadnavis detailed ambitious river-linking projects, including the Wainganga-Nalganga link, to divert excess floodwaters to parched regions. The state plans to construct 24 new dams and raise the height of 16 existing ones to ensure not a single district in Vidarbha faces water scarcity. Furthermore, massive engineering feats are on the drawing board to divert 200 TMC of floodwater from Western Maharashtra to Marathwada, and lift 275 TMC of wasted water from the Ulhas basin to quench the thirst of North Maharashtra and Marathwada. By marrying immediate, massive debt relief with long-term infrastructure promises, the Fadnavis administration is aggressively cementing its pro-farmer narrative. As the Yashwantrao Chavan auditorium echoed with whistles and cheers, it became highly evident that the government’s strategy of pairing mega populist waivers with big-ticket rural dreams is striking a powerful chord with the state’s agrarian voters.

Dying to Succeed

India is confronting a devastating public health emergency that threatens its demographic dividend: the sharp and relentless rise in student suicides. Every year, thousands of young people burdened by crushing academic pressure, systemic shortcomings and insufficient mental health support, choose to end their lives. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) paints a harrowing picture. Behind the statistics are grieving families and an education system urgently in need of reform, shifting from cut-throat competition toward genuine care and support. To address this crisis the country has to move beyond numbers to confront deep-rooted structural failures, regional disparities and implementation gaps.


Maharashtra’s Burden

A detailed look at NCRB data reveals a consistent upward trajectory in student suicides across India. In 2020, the country recorded 12,526 student suicides. This figure rose to 13,089 in 2021, dipped marginally to 13,044 in 2022, then climbed sharply to 13,892 in 2023 and peaked at 14,488 in 2024. This represents an overall increase of more than 15.6% over five years, underscoring the accelerating nature of the crisis.


When viewed against the broader suicide landscape, the situation is even more alarming. Total suicides in India grew from 1,53,052 in 2020 to 1,70,746 in 2024. Students have consistently accounted for roughly 8 - 8.5 percent of all suicides annually. In 2024 alone, the loss of 14,488 student lives translates to nearly 40 suicides per day or one every 36 minutes. These figures highlight how academic stress has turned educational aspirations into a silent epidemic.


Maharashtra stands out as one of the worst-affected states. In 2020, it reported 1,648 student suicides, contributing over 13 percent of the national total. The numbers surged to 1,834 in 2021, eased slightly to 1,764 in 2022, then spiked dramatically to 2,046 in 2023 before declining to 1,909 in 2024. Despite the recent dip, the state registered a net increase of approximately 15.8 percent over the five-year period, closely mirroring the national trend. As one of India’s most urbanized and educationally competitive states, Maharashtra’s high figures reflect intense pressure in coaching hubs like Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur, where students prepare for high-stakes exams such as JEE, NEET and state board tests.


Underlying Causes

The roots of this despair are complex. The Indian education system often reduces a student’s worth to a single exam score, amplifying anxiety through fierce competition for limited seats in premier institutions. Parental expectations, fear of unemployment and socioeconomic pressures compound this burden. Many students, especially in residential coaching centers, experience isolation from family and community support networks.


The digital age has introduced new challenges. Social media fosters unhealthy comparisons, cyberbullying and constant performance anxiety. Students report feeling overwhelmed by curated success stories online while grappling with their own setbacks. Marginalized groups, students from lower-income families and those belonging to certain social categories often face additional layers of discrimination and financial stress.


The Supreme Court has repeatedly highlighted the mental health crisis in coaching centers, urging stricter oversight and student safeguards. At the national level, initiatives such as Manodarpan and the Tele-MANAS helpline aim to provide psychosocial support and 24/7 counselling.


However, a significant gap persists between policy and practice. India suffers from a severe shortage of mental health professionals. The country has far fewer psychiatrists, psychologists and trained counsellors than required to serve its vast student population. Even in relatively prosperous states like Maharashtra, most schools and colleges cannot afford full-time qualified staff. Deep societal stigma around mental health further discourages help-seeking, leaving official facilities underutilized.


To bridge this divide, India must adopt scalable, community-driven solutions. One promising approach involves leveraging established youth networks such as the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Youth Red Cross (YRC). In partnership with District Mental Health Program teams, educational institutions can train selected volunteers as certified ‘mental health first aid providers.’


Trained in recognizing warning signs, they can create stigma-free spaces where students feel safe opening up. Because volunteers are fellow students, trust levels are naturally higher.


States like Maharashtra could pilot expanded versions in high-burden districts, combining peer networks with awareness campaigns, reduced exam pressure through holistic evaluation methods and better regulation of coaching institutes.


By empowering students through peer support networks, strengthening implementation of existing policies and addressing root causes like competition and stigma, India can begin to reverse this tragic trend. The goal is not merely to reduce numbers but to create campuses where young people feel supported and hopeful about their futures.


(The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders, an Odisha-based non-profit Trust. Views personal.)

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