ABSTRACT
The study of socioeconomic characteristics of the sampled villages, rural households and respondents, that is deceased farmers and agricultural labourers and control group farmers and agricultural labourers, is crucial and important to gauge the gravity of the rural and agrarian distress in Punjab. Indian society traditionally has been characterized by the dominance of cultural factors like extended family systems/joint family system, dependence on the family and the fact that some time family loyalty overrides individual concerns. Social norms predominantly determine the socioeconomic behaviour of the rural households. These cultural and social factors may help elucidate some of the patterns of suicide among farmers and agricultural labourers. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to analyse various important personal, social, cultural, religious and economic variables of the village and rural households.
