Driven to despair by the burden of bank loans and the constant pressure from bank officials, Nagarmal Meghwal, a farmer from Sonthli village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, committed suicide on February 20. Farmers sat on dharna in front of the State Hospital at Gudha Gorji for 3 days, and people’s representatives led by Nawalgarh Pradhan also sat on a hunger strike. People’s organizations including Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha, Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, Desh Bachao Kisan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, and Maru Pradesh Morcha also participated in the dharna. On 23 February, thousands of farmers gathered at the dharna venue outside Gudha Gorji Hospital. The State Sainik Welfare Board President Prem Singh Bajaur came to the dharna venue at 7 PM along with the District Collector and the SP. At the dharna venu,e the officials promised that the entire loan of the victim family would be waived and the widow of Nagarmal Meghwal would be given employment in the Anganwadi. Only after these assurances were made, the dharna was called off.
