The Art of Living Foundation has been working towards stopping farmer suicides in the Vidarbha, an agricultural belt in India. Many of its farmers committed suicide owing to poor crop and rising debts. The Foundation implemented a programmessmeme specially devised to create a sense of confidence in farmers and educated them in organic farming methods.
PREVENTING FARMER SUICIDES
An agricultural region in Maharashtra, India, Vidarbha has been witnessing tremendous turmoil over the last few years. Estimates suggest that 1,920 farmers ended their lives between 1 January 2001 and 19 August 2006. The despair and helplessness kept escalating through 2006 showing a grim prognosis: one suicide every eight hours.
Alarmed by the spate of suicides, the Government of Maharashtra invited a few NGOs to initiate motivational programmessmemes to stem the suicide rate. After the first meeting with the Chief Secretary in June 2006 the Art of Living Foundation constituted a task force with a mandate to start not only the motivational programmessmemes but also other practical time-tested initiatives like organic farming methods, water conversation techniques, health and hygiene, and others to form a part of the internationally known 5H programmessmeme of AOL.
A group of 35 well-trained and motivated youth were brought together from all parts of Maharashtra. They underwent a four-day orientation programmessmeme.
These Yuvacharyas then implemented the programmessmeme specially devised to create a forum for community oneness and paving the way to live life with self-esteem and dignity.
This project gave them:
- Improved health through tools to combat depression and fear
- Economic prosperity with techniques to improve agricultural produce
- Better quality of life by building the relevant infrastructure
"Before Art of Living, there was depression and debt everywhere. I'm confident that with the zero budget farming taught in the course, the produce will improve and debts will be cleared and rdquo; Devendra Borde, a farmer from Vidarbha.
The Swavalamban project involves
- Stage I: Stress-elimination with trauma relief workshops
- Stage II: Workshops on chemical-free farming which teach techniques that lower production costs and increase yield, thereby increasing profits
- Stage III: Rainwater harvesting projects and soak pits to overcome water shortages
Special programmessmemes are carried out for village youth to inspire them to become a part of the solution. The Youth Leadership Training programmessmeme (YLTP) is being carried out on a large scale. Around 3,725 youth have been trained
The project in the meantime gathered more steam and as of October 2007, Art of Living Foundation has covered 507 villages. 3000 ft of CCT farming has been done, 65 field ponds (10x10x10m) have been completed. This number went up to 500 by March 2007.
What is more important is that the urge to live has returned. Not a single case of suicide has been reported in the 507 villages since the Art of Living Foundation commenced its work. As an ongoing initiative, this project has made a huge difference in the region.
