Notice to Kerala Govt. on suicides by farmers
New Delhi 31 May 2004
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the state government of Kerala seeking a report on the increasing suicides by farmers.
Taking suo-motu cognizance of a news item in a national daily titled 'Farmers suicide toll rises to 17 in Kerala' dated 4 April 2004 the Commission called for a report from the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala within 6 weeks.
The news item reported that the number of farmers who have committed suicide owing to crop loss and drought has touched 17 as on Saturday (3 April 2004). In all 11 farmers in Wayanad District, 2 in Kannur and 1 each in Kasargod, Palakkad, Kottayam and Idukki district have committed suicide, it said. The news story stated that in Wayanad, those who ended their lives were reportedly the farmers who ran into mounting debt with banks and were unable to repay owing to successive losses they had suffered.
The press report further stated that one farmer, Mathew Thomas of Kottayam District publicly consumed pesticide right in front of the people at Mundakkayam town.
********
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the state government of Kerala seeking a report on the increasing suicides by farmers.
Taking suo-motu cognizance of a news item in a national daily titled 'Farmers suicide toll rises to 17 in Kerala' dated 4 April 2004 the Commission called for a report from the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala within 6 weeks.
The news item reported that the number of farmers who have committed suicide owing to crop loss and drought has touched 17 as on Saturday (3 April 2004). In all 11 farmers in Wayanad District, 2 in Kannur and 1 each in Kasargod, Palakkad, Kottayam and Idukki district have committed suicide, it said. The news story stated that in Wayanad, those who ended their lives were reportedly the farmers who ran into mounting debt with banks and were unable to repay owing to successive losses they had suffered.
The press report further stated that one farmer, Mathew Thomas of Kottayam District publicly consumed pesticide right in front of the people at Mundakkayam town.
********