Palamu (Jharkhand), June 28 Absence of rains has taken a toll of many lives, especially of peasants, whose livelihood depends on rains.

A group of farmers in Jhakhand's Palamu district, in a letter to the President of India, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India, have asked for permission to commit suicide.

Acute drought like situation in the region has made the farmers desparate. The farmers say their cannot survive as they are facing drought for three successive years. The Government has not helped them .

"There is no water in the wells. There is no water in the tap. We do not have food to eat. So we are left with no choice but to commit suicide. We can consume poison and die. The government should give us permission to eat poison and die," said Dulari Devi, a villager.

The District Commissioner, however, said that efforts are on to keep a track of the receding water level.

"We have got information about the receding water level in some places. We are keeping a track of the situation. We are trying to identify pockets where there is a possibility of water level receding to a great extent. In that case we might go for extra deep boring," said Amitabh Kaushal, District Commissioner for Palamu.

Timely monsoon is vital for India's largely agrarian based economy, as it determines farm output and subsequent rural demand for a range of products.he four-month (June-September) monsoon is the main source of water for irrigation in the country's vast farmlands. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)