Punjab, once celebrated for its Green Revolution and prosperity, is today grappling with a silent crisis that is affecting the very backbone of its rural and semi-urban population—farmers, small shopkeepers, laborers, and daily wage workers. Behind the bustling cities and fields of golden wheat lies a painful reality marked by economic despair, social pressure, and mental distress.
Everyone dreams of a better life—a home of their own, a vehicle for mobility, and a dignified status in society. In Punjab, this dream often pushes the common man to take loans, not just for essential needs but also to meet rising social expectations. A small farmer may mortgage his land to build a house; a shopkeeper may borrow to expand his shop; a daily wager may take a loan to buy a scooter or to fund his children’s education. Unfortunately, these dreams often become a burden. With low and unstable incomes, mounting debts, and high-interest rates, many are unable to repay what they borrow. The result is a cycle of stress, humiliation, and hopelessness.
Punjabi society is known for its vibrant culture, but it also carries an unspoken burden of comparison. Families want to maintain “barabari”—an equal status with their neighbors and relatives. This race to keep up appearances, even when incomes do not support it, adds to the financial pressure. Weddings, dowries, religious events, and even home décor become a matter of prestige. To meet these expectations, people often turn to private moneylenders or microfinance schemes, many of which charge exorbitant interest. When repayments become impossible, the emotional and psychological toll begins to mount.
The most tragic consequence of this ongoing crisis is the rising number of suicides among these sections. News of farmers drinking pesticides, laborers hanging themselves, or shopkeepers setting themselves ablaze is becoming heartbreakingly common. These are not just statistics; these are human lives lost to a system that offers little support and even less compassion. Behind every suicide is a story of shattered dreams, unbearable pressure, and a cry for help that went unheard. Families are left in deeper debt and sorrow, often struggling with both the loss and the stigma.
This crisis demands urgent attention. The government must implement more robust support systems—easy access to low-interest loans, fair market prices for crops, loan waivers in critical cases, and mental health support at the grassroots level. There must also be strict regulation of private moneylenders and awareness campaigns to break the stigma around debt and suicide. Moreover, as a society, we must redefine success, not through material comparison but through empathy, simplicity, and support for one another. Punjab’s heart beats in its villages and among its hardworking people. If we fail to address their pain, we fail as a society. It’s time to listen, support, and act—before more dreams turn into tragedies.