PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, Dated: 30th July, 2015

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that as many as 16 farmers committed suicide in the Mandya district, which called 'Sugar Bowl' in Karnataka. Despite the Chief Minister of the State having promised purchase price of sugarcane as Rs.2500/- per tonne, the sugar mills were paying a meager price of Rs.700-800/- per tonne. During the last fiscal, they purchased sugarcane for Rs.2200/- per tonne and before that the purchase price was Rs.2650/- per tonne.

The Commission has observed that the spate of deaths due to suicides by farmers is of grave concern and calls for prompt and quick remedial steps by the Government. It has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka calling for a report in the matter within four weeks.

The media report, carried on the 27th July, 2015, quoting a group of farmers, said that the negligence by the State and Central Governments in the matter of fixing fair price, payment of arrears by sugar mills and a sugarcane glut are the main reasons for the sudden spike in the suicides.

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