Exam Scams Push Maharashtra Farmers to Suicide Amid Farm Crisis
In Maharashtra, India’s richest state, the wealthy economy does not reach rural districts like Beed in the Marathwada region. This area is known for its high rate of farmer suicides, with more than 26,000 recorded between 2013 and 2022 due to falling crop prices, inflation, and climate change.
Ganesh Kale, a 40-year-old farmer, was on the brink of taking his own life in January after being driven to despair by an exam scam. Despite the deepening agricultural crisis, many children of farmers in Maharashtra are trying to secure government jobs through online exams. However, lower-grade exams for positions like clerks and teachers are plagued with corruption and paper leaks, favoring those with influence or money.
Kale spent nearly 40,000 rupees ($490) over the past decade trying to land a government job without success. He is just one of many victims of exam scams in Maharashtra. Instances of paper leaks and fraud in the 2023 exams were reported in several districts, leading to arrests and investigations by the police.
These scams have a significant impact on the mental health of aspiring candidates, pushing some to the brink of suicide. Manisha Gosavi, who has been trying to secure a government job for five years, shared her struggles and the toll it has taken on her well-being.
The story of Ganesh Kale and others like him sheds light on the darker side of the quest for government jobs in Maharashtra, where corruption and fraud rob deserving candidates of fair opportunities. As the state grapples with a dual crisis of farmer suicides and exam scams, the need for systemic reforms and accountability becomes more urgent than ever.
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Some key points from the article “In India’s richest state, exam scams kill escape from farm crisis” include:
1. The state of Maharashtra in India, despite being one of the richest states, has a high rate of farmer suicides due to issues such as falling crop prices, rising inflation, and climate change.
2. The agricultural crisis in Maharashtra has led many children of farmers to seek government jobs through online exams, but these exams are plagued with corruption and paper leaks.
3. Ganesh Kale, a farmer from Maharashtra, attempted to take his own life after being unable to secure a government job despite multiple attempts due to corruption in the exam system.
4. Instances of fraud and paper leaks in government job exams have been reported in various districts of Maharashtra, highlighting the extent of corruption in the system.
5. The corruption and unfair practices in government job exams have a detrimental impact on the mental health of aspiring candidates, leading some to take extreme measures like suicide.
6. The article also shares personal stories of individuals like Manisha Gosavi, who have faced challenges in securing government jobs due to corruption in the exam system.