The Tulsi plant flourishing outside the home of Nima Dnyaneshwar Malekar in the parched village of Pimplapur, located in Yavatmal’s Ralegaon, stands in stark contrast to her overwhelming grief. At 58 years old, Nima has spent the past five years engulfed in sorrow, beginning with the loss of her eldest son, Nikhil, who reportedly died by suicide in March 2021. Her younger son, Tapaveen, aged 25, followed suit in October 2024, and most recently, her husband Dnyaneshwar, aged 65, took his own life on July 22 of this year.
With her voice trembling, Nima expresses her confusion, stating that she could never understand the struggles that plagued their minds. “We worked tirelessly. My children labored, their father worked hard. But what did it all amount to? There is nothing left,” she laments.
Nima’s nephew, Harish Choudhary, notes that the factors contributing to the tragic deaths of all three family members were similar – persistent crop failures, insufficient rainfall, and challenges in obtaining an electricity connection to operate a borewell for irrigation.
The Malekar family’s plight is not isolated; vast regions of Maharashtra, including Yavatmal, are once again facing drought conditions. Recently, the state government declared drought status in 265 out of 358 tehsils, which is approximately three-quarters of Maharashtra.
According to official statistics, Yavatmal recorded 128 farmer suicides from January to June of this year, even before the current drought cycle took hold.
Nima and her husband had just completed building their house this year after receiving funding through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Now feeling “all alone in it,” Nima divides her time between her brother’s residence in Kosala village and her own home, with neighbors and family assisting in the management of her farmland.
She carries on as best as she can, stating, “I will live as long as God permits. When my time comes, I will go.”
Village head Ravindra Choudhary, who is related to the family, recalls how Nikhil, who worked the family’s five acres of cotton crops, had long struggled to secure an electricity connection to irrigate their fields. “He would often say, ‘I’m going mad. I don’t see any way for the crops to thrive,’” Nima remembers. In 2021, heavy rainfall devastated their harvest, and shortly before his marriage was set to take place, Nikhil was found hanging from a tree, which villagers later cut down.
Tapaveen had initially charted a different path, having completed his BA and begun postgraduate studies. However, following Nikhil’s death, he took on greater responsibilities at the farm while continuing his studies and preparing for competitive examinations. Unfortunately, 2024 proved to be disastrous, with crops failing due to lack of rain. Nima recalls Tapaveen expressing his despair, saying, “What should I do? I can’t think straight.” Tragically, one day while Nima and Dnyaneshwar were in the field, Tapaveen hanged himself at home.
This year, the family attempted to plant crops three times, investing in seeds and fertilizers, but were met with disappointment as no rain fell for nearly two months, resulting in a dried-up harvest.
Nima reflects on her husband’s struggles, noting that he never voiced his despair. She recounts that on the night before Dnyaneshwar’s death, she went to bed beside him, only to discover his body hanging in a nearby room the following morning.
Grampanchayat Adhikari R.R. Dhage acknowledges the farmers’ vulnerability to unpredictable weather patterns. “During the elder son’s time, there was excessive rain. During the younger son’s, drought struck… It continues to be the same.”
Dnyaneshwar had spent years working as a farm laborer until he saved enough to purchase the five acres of previously barren land in 2018. Harish notes that Dnyaneshwar transformed it into cultivable land almost single-handedly.
For a brief period, the family believed their hardships were behind them, but ongoing challenges with rainfall and electricity continued to plague them. They first applied for an electricity connection in 2021 when the government launched a new scheme. While around 40 farmers in the village received connections, Dnyaneshwar did not.
In 2023, the Malekars attempted again with a solar-powered system, but Harish points out that the depth of their borewell requires a high-capacity pump, which solar power cannot adequately support, especially at night when it is most needed. The family also notes that without government subsidies, the cost of installing a solar system is unaffordable.
Sarpanch Ravindra admits that only three villagers have opted for solar energy solutions.
Following the deaths of Nima’s family members, she received visits from representatives of various political parties, including the BJP, Congress, and Shiv Sena, but no substantial aid materialized.
Recently, Nima was approved for a certificate under the Niradhar Scheme, which promises her Rs 1,500 per month, although payments have yet to commence. Additionally, she received a cheque for Rs 20,000 under the Rashtriya Kutumb Labh Yojana. Ralegaon Tehsildar Amit Bhoite stated, “This scheme provides immediate financial assistance to bereaved BPL families that have lost their primary earners. We have also approved over Rs 1 lakh for her late husband’s case under the farmer suicide aid program. The Rs 1,500 has been sanctioned under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana.” He further mentioned efforts to involve NGOs for additional support for Nima.
According to the family, the only significant financial aid they ever received was Rs 1 lakh after Nikhil’s passing, which went entirely towards settling their debts, as noted by Harish.
Nima still manages to visit the farm when possible, although Harish describes her visits as more of a moment of quiet reflection. “She simply goes and sits there.”
With a distant gaze and an expression of deep sorrow, Nima states, “The day after Dnyaneshwar passed away, it rained… But since then, there has been no water.”
