A Farmer In India Dies Every Hour, Stand With Their Families & Help Stop the Tragedy

These hands work tirelessly to put food on our tables, yet they struggle to feed their own families. Crushed under the weight of debt, humiliated, and with no other way out, these farmers see no option but to end their lives.

“I can never forget what I saw that day…walking into our hut, seeing my father hanging from the roof. His lifeless body and the feeling of fear and helplessness…,” Rupa* says, her voice breaking as she recalls that fateful day.

Tragically, stories like Rupa’s are all too common. Farmers are at their breaking point across central India’s Bundelkhand region, battling drought, hailstorms, erratic rains, and barren land. They’re fighting a losing battle, and their struggles will bring tears to your eyes. 

I have lost my father - a pain that will never leave me - but how will we survive now? 

Founded in 2001 by Raja Bhaiyya, Vidya Dham Samiti is an NGO working in one of the hardest-hit drought regions of Bundelkhand, like the Naraini block of Banda district. Their mission is to save farmers from the grip of suicide and support the families left behind when tragedy strikes.

“Not a week goes by without hearing about a farmer who’s taken his life because of crushing debt,” Raja Bhaiyya shares. “We’ve listened to heartbreaking stories—a father who hanged himself just 10 days before his daughter’s wedding because he couldn’t take on more debt, knowing he’d never be able to repay it. Young men who ended their lives after buying a tractor on loan - their crops had failed, leaving them with no way to pay back the debt.”

Farmers are often forced to take out loans from banks or, worse, from informal money lenders to buy essential resources like fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides. But when their crops fail or yields are low, they’re trapped—unable to repay loans with sky-high interest rates. Faced with unpayable debt and threats from loan sharks, many see no way out other than taking their own lives.

“Our 300-strong network of volunteers helps us identify families at risk of suicide. We counsel them, provide skill development training, and teach them sustainable farming methods like using compost instead of chemical fertilizers and practicing mixed cropping. We give them the tools and strength to stand on their own and rebuild their lives,” Raja Bhaiyya explains.

Vidya Dham Samiti is more than a lifeline—they are a beacon of hope for families and farmers who see no way out.

Stand with Raja Bhaiyya to save countless farmers from despair

Your support can empower Vidya Dham Samiti to provide groceries and compost kits to over 500 struggling families in Banda, Bundelkhand. These families, torn apart by debt and loss, deserve a chance to live with dignity, free from humiliation and relentless hardship.

By donating today, you’re not just offering relief—you’re offering hope, strength, and the possibility of a better tomorrow for those who need it most.