Washim (Maharashtra): In a desperate plea for financial relief, a farmer from Maharashtra’s Washim, resorted to an unusual form of protest by offering to sell his organs to repay his debts. Frustrated by the state government’s unfulfilled promise of a farm loan waiver, Satish Idole, a resident of Adoli village, carried a placard around his neck listing prices for his body parts. His protest was directed at the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government, which had assured farmers of loan forgiveness before the elections but later insisted they repay their debts themselves.
In a video that has gone viral on the internet, Idole walked into the busy market area of Washim with a sign that read, “Buy the organs of farmers,” listing his kidneys for Rs 75,000, his liver for Rs 90,000, and his eyes for Rs 25,000. His dramatic demonstration quickly gathered public attention, drawing a crowd of onlookers who stopped to read his message.
Idole Put Price Tags On Family’s Organs Too
Speaking to reporters, Idole expressed his helplessness. “Before the elections, Devendra Fadnavis promised that farmer loans would be waived. Now, we are being asked to repay them on our own. How can we do that when we have nothing left? I have no choice but to sell my organs,” he lamented. In a heart-wrenching move, he even put a price on his family’s organs, offering his wife’s kidney for Rs 40,000, his son’s for Rs 20,000, and his youngest child’s for Rs 10,000, acknowledging that his own body parts would not be enough to cover his Rs 1 lakh debt, reported India Today.
Idole also submitted a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis through the district collector’s office, urging the government to honor its promise. He stated that he saw no way out of his predicament except suicide, as he lacked the means to repay his loan. Owning just two acres of land, he had borrowed from Maharashtra Bank but found himself unable to clear the debt due to poor returns on his crops.
His protest coincides with recent statements from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who reaffirmed that farmers must be responsible for their own loans and that the government would not waive them. Idole criticised this stance, stating, “The government promised to clear the 7/12 records, but now they demand repayment. Soybeans sell for just Rs 3,000 per quintal. Farmers are being deceived, and agricultural products still do not get fair prices.”
