Maharashtra's water supply minister feels 'mass marriages can curb farmer suicide cases'

Mumbai: Maharashtra's Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Babanrao Lonikar feels that 'mass marriage programme' in rural areas will curb the number of farmer suicide cases.

As per a report in The Times of India, Lonikar organized a mass marriage function for 551 couples on Sunday, April 24, in Partur village in Jalna District.

He  was quoted as saying by the Daily - "Daughter's marriage is a big deal for a poor farmer or labours. Most of them, go for huge debt for a daughter's marriage as it's a prestigious issue for them and linked to customs and dowry. This is one of the reason for farmer suicides, apart from drought or loss of crop."

"Mass marriages can curb farmer's suicide cases. It can also help save their property for the next generation as many farmers sell their land for their daughter's wedding despite adverse financial conditions," Lonikar added.

"We will provide them household belongings too. On behalf of the government, we have also planned to issue them sanction letter to construct a toilet block," the minister was further quoted as saying by the Daily.