A study by the Department of Economics at Punjabi University, Patiala, revealed that 60% of rural women surveyed in Panjab are under outstanding debt and 53% women have experienced some form of violence, highlighting the severe impact of agrarian distress on women in the state. Understanding the Nature, Forms, and Implications of Structural Violence Against Rural Women in the Context of Agrarian Distress in Punjab was conducted by Dr Anupama, Professor of Economics at Punjabi University, Patiala, and Simran Kaur, Assistant Professor at Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib. The study surveyed 711 women across Sangrur, Mansa, and Bathinda—districts identified as hotspots for farmer suicides by Punjab Agricultural University. Many women lack ownership of land, homes, or assets but are burdened with repaying debts after male family members commit suicide. The average debt per family is USD 4,723 in Sangrur, USD 4,428 in Mansa, and USD 4,133 in Bathinda. General category respondents have an average debt of USD 5,798, compared to USD 1,381 for ‘Scheduled Castes’ and USD 1,889 for ‘Other Backward Classes’. Ironically, the study also found that 53% of women reported experiencing domestic violence, with Mansa reporting the highest instances, while Panjab touts there have been zero domestic violence cases lodged in the past three years. Verbal abuse was most prevalent, faced by 86% of victims from husbands and 39% from other household members. Only 33% of women sought help and a mere 13% filed police complaints. How can Panjab claim to have zero cases if 13% women have filed police complaints?
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