The Tulsi plant flourishing outside Nima Dnyaneshwar Malekar’s residence in the drought-stricken Pimplapur village of Yavatmal’s Ralegaon stands out with its vibrant green hue, a stark contrast to the parched environment. However, 58-year-old Nima is largely oblivious to its beauty.
For the past five years, sadness has overshadowed her life, beginning with the tragic loss of her elder son, Nikhil, who died by suspected suicide in March 2021 at the age of 28. Her younger son, Tapaveen, who was three years his junior, followed suit in October 2024. Most recently, Nima’s husband, Dnyaneshwar, aged 65, took his own life on July 22 of this year.
With a trembling voice, Nima expresses her confusion about the struggles her loved ones faced, stating, “We worked tirelessly. My children labored, their father toiled. But what was the point? There is nothing left.”
According to her nephew, Harish Choudhary, the underlying causes of all three deaths were consistent: ongoing crop failures, insufficient rainfall, and challenges in securing an electricity connection for their borewell. The Malekar family’s plight is not isolated, as vast areas of Maharashtra, including Yavatmal, are once again grappling with drought conditions. Recently, the state government declared drought in 265 of its 358 tehsils, which is roughly three-fourths of Maharashtra.
Official statistics reveal that from January to June of this year, even before the current drought cycle began, Yavatmal recorded 128 farmer suicides. Nima and Dnyaneshwar had constructed their home only this year with assistance from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Now, feeling “all alone” in it, Nima spends a portion of her time at her brother’s residence in Kosala village, while neighbors and family assist in managing her farmland.
Despite her loss, Nima strives to persevere. “I will live as long as God allows me. When it’s my time, I will go,” she affirms.
Village head Ravindra Choudhary, who is related to the Malekars, recalls that Nikhil, who worked on their five-acre cotton farm, had been desperately awaiting approval for an electricity connection to access water from their borewell. “He would often say, ‘I’m going mad. I don’t know how the crops will survive,’” Nima remembers. In 2021, heavy rains destroyed their crops, and when Nikhil was found hanging from a tree, his wedding was just a month away. Villagers later removed the tree.
Tapaveen had a different path in mind; after completing his bachelor’s degree, he enrolled in a postgraduate program. However, following Nikhil’s death, he began assisting on the farm while also studying for competitive exams. Yet, the year 2024 proved disastrous for the family, as their crops failed due to a lack of rain. “He too started saying, ‘What should I do? I can’t think straight,’” Nima recalls. Tragically, while she and her husband were out in the fields, Tapaveen hanged himself at their home.
This year, Nima explains, they planted seeds three times and invested in fertilizers, but the lack of rain for nearly two months led to crop failure. She recounts how her husband kept his feelings hidden, and one morning, after she had fallen asleep in front of him, Dnyaneshwar went to another room and took his life. Nima found him at about 5 a.m.
R R Dhage, the village’s Grampanchayat Adhikari, notes that farmers here are at the mercy of the elements. “During the time of the elder son, there was excessive rain. During the younger son’s time, there was drought… It remains the same,” he states.
Dnyaneshwar had worked as a laborer on others’ farms for years before he managed to buy the five acres he owned in 2018, which was previously barren land. Harish adds, “Dnyaneshwar cultivated it almost all by himself.”
For a time, the family believed their hardships were behind them, but the ongoing struggles with rainfall and electricity continued to plague them.
The Malekars first applied for an electricity connection in 2021 when the government introduced a new scheme. While the village head mentions that around 40 farmers benefited, Dnyaneshwar did not receive assistance.
They attempted again when a solar-powered system was introduced in 2023. Nima has since reached out to the Tehsildar again, but Harish insists solar energy is insufficient. He explains that their borewell is deep and requires a high-capacity pump, stating, “How can we operate the pump? Solar energy diminishes around 4 p.m. and doesn’t work at night.”
Furthermore, the family indicates that the cost of installing a solar system, without government subsidies, is unattainable. The village head admits that only three residents have adopted solar power.
Following the deaths of her loved ones, Nima was approached by representatives from various political parties. “The BJP, Congress, and Shiv Sena all visited,” notes the village head. “Yet, no substantial action has been taken.”
Recently, Nima was issued a certificate under the Niradhar Scheme and informed she would receive ₹1,500 per month, although the payments have yet to commence, according to family members.
A cheque for ₹20,000 was also provided by the Tehsildar under the Rashtriya Kutumb Labh Yojana. Ralegaon Tehsildar Amit Bhoite explains, “This scheme is designed to offer immediate financial support to bereaved BPL families who have lost their primary earners. We have also allocated over ₹1 lakh to her husband’s case under the farmer suicide aid program. The ₹1,500 has been approved under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana.” Bhoite adds that he is working to involve NGOs to provide additional support for Nima.
The family states that the only significant aid they received was ₹1 lakh following Nikhil’s death, which primarily went towards repaying debts, according to Harish.
Nima continues to visit the farm when possible, though Harish comments, “She mostly just sits there.” With distant eyes and a vacant expression, Nima reflects, “The day after he (Dnyaneshwar) passed away, it rained… But since then, there has been no water.”
