The Hindu : My husband was no drunkard, avers farmer's wife

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

My husband was no drunkard, avers farmer's wife

By Our Staff Reporter

Chinaponnu, wife of Veeraiyan, a farmer who committed suicide, speaking to presspersons in Thanjavur on Monday.

Thanjavur Jan. 6. Chinnaponnu, wife of Veeraiyan of Thirupuvanam in Thanjavur district, today maintained that her farmer-husband committed suicide following failure of the samba crop.

Refuting the statement by the Collector, S. Kosalaraman, that Veeraiyan consumed poison as he was not able to get money from her for drinking, a sobbing Chinnaponnu told presspersons here that her husband was not a drunkard. He drank only occasionally when he had heavy work to do. Moreover, never did he ask her money for drinking.

Moreover, on the fateful December 31, Veeraiyan was a worried man, not having been able to save the crop raised on two acres of land, which was purchased by his eldest son-in-law and given to him for eking out a living.

Chinnaponnu said Veeraiyan had met their daughter Devaki, who lives at Marunkulam, one week before his death, and told her that he had taken loans and raised the crop. He was not sure whether he could harvest the crop as water scarcity was acute. Hence, she would have to look after the family if he committed suicide.

Devaki, however, consoled her father and asked him not to take the extreme step.

Chinnaponnu said she never lodged a police complaint that her husband wanted money for drinking. Only the police came to her house and got signatures in some papers, she alleged. They also took exception to her statement to the media that Veeraiyan died following crop failure.

Devaki, who was also at the press conference, said that a week before the death her father came to her house with a broken heart and informed her that he might kill himself as the crop failed. But she did not believe that he would do so.

Plea to CM

The family members appealed to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, not to be misled by ``false information'' given by officials, and to see the truth and come to the rescue of hundreds of such farmers who were in the same plight.

Mr. Chidambaram, Thanjavur district CPI secretary, also present at the party office, where the family members met the press, said Veeraiyan had taken a loan of Rs. 40,000, pledging jewels and utensils. He said receipts issued by pawn shops were available. He also borrowed Rs. 10,000 from the Indian Overseas Bank for purchasing a tyre cart.

The suicide was a reminder of the grim situation prevailing in Thanjavur district. By describing Veeraiyan as a drunkard and claiming that he consumed poison because he was not able to get money from his wife for drinking, the Collector ``trivialised'' the death of Veeraiyan, Mr. Chidambaram said.

Mr.Chidambaram and A. Panneerselvam, secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said a fast would be held here on January 11 to seek justice to Veeraiyan's family. The family members would also participate.

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