Suicides by farmers in Andhra Pradesh & Kerala
Recent reports in the media of farmers committing suicides in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh has prompted the Commission to take suo-motu cognizance and issue notices to the state governments concerned.
The incidents of suicides by farmers in Kerala were reported in a national daily dated 4 April 2004 titled 'Farmers suicide toll rises to 17 in Kerala'. 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. It further stated that one farmer, Mathew Thomas of Kottayam District publicly consumed pesticide at Mundakkayam town.
The deaths were said to have taken place in Wayanad, Kannur, Kasargod, Palakkad, Kottayam and Idukki districts. The Commission has sought a report from the state government within 6 weeks.
Meanwhile, the Commission has taken a serious note of the continuing reports on suicides by the debt ridden and distressed farmers in Andhra Pradesh, including women. On 31 May 2004, the Commission took cognizance of some recent newspaper reports relating to fresh cases of suicides by the debt ridden and distressed farmers and called for the response of the Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh within 4 weeks. It has also requested that the state government expedite its reply on the recommendations made by Shri K.R.Venugopal, Special Rapporteur of the Commission, suggesting steps to deal with the situation relating to suicides by farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The recommendations of Shri Venugopal had been forwarded nearly a year ago in connection with an earlier case and the response from the state government is still awaited despite several reminders.
Gist of the recommendations:
· All necessary measures like generation of employment through public works should be taken up.
· Social security measures for those who cannot work have to be taken up by the State Government immediately.
· Cancellation of debt in all cases of suicide deaths, incurred with public institution like cooperatives and banks should be ordered, after a thorough verification.
· Ex-gratia relief should be granted to the bereaved families.
· Review and action on the part of the Central and State Governments in regard to regulation of the private trade in seeds and pesticides and in the matter of fertilizer pricing.
· Timely credit and its availability for agriculture.
· The State Government should, launch a comprehensive package of relief and development measures for affected families, after a survey is conducted by the District Collectors to identify all the victim families.
· Report compliance to the National Human Rights Commission, including the status of dependent children of the farmers who committed suicide.
· Government of Andhra Pradesh should also report if rehabilitation of the victim families of incidents prior to the year 2000-2001 has been completed, in terms of the measures earlier initiated by them.
The incidents of suicides by farmers in Kerala were reported in a national daily dated 4 April 2004 titled 'Farmers suicide toll rises to 17 in Kerala'. 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. It further stated that one farmer, Mathew Thomas of Kottayam District publicly consumed pesticide at Mundakkayam town.
The deaths were said to have taken place in Wayanad, Kannur, Kasargod, Palakkad, Kottayam and Idukki districts. The Commission has sought a report from the state government within 6 weeks.
Meanwhile, the Commission has taken a serious note of the continuing reports on suicides by the debt ridden and distressed farmers in Andhra Pradesh, including women. On 31 May 2004, the Commission took cognizance of some recent newspaper reports relating to fresh cases of suicides by the debt ridden and distressed farmers and called for the response of the Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh within 4 weeks. It has also requested that the state government expedite its reply on the recommendations made by Shri K.R.Venugopal, Special Rapporteur of the Commission, suggesting steps to deal with the situation relating to suicides by farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The recommendations of Shri Venugopal had been forwarded nearly a year ago in connection with an earlier case and the response from the state government is still awaited despite several reminders.
Gist of the recommendations:
· All necessary measures like generation of employment through public works should be taken up.
· Social security measures for those who cannot work have to be taken up by the State Government immediately.
· Cancellation of debt in all cases of suicide deaths, incurred with public institution like cooperatives and banks should be ordered, after a thorough verification.
· Ex-gratia relief should be granted to the bereaved families.
· Review and action on the part of the Central and State Governments in regard to regulation of the private trade in seeds and pesticides and in the matter of fertilizer pricing.
· Timely credit and its availability for agriculture.
· The State Government should, launch a comprehensive package of relief and development measures for affected families, after a survey is conducted by the District Collectors to identify all the victim families.
· Report compliance to the National Human Rights Commission, including the status of dependent children of the farmers who committed suicide.
· Government of Andhra Pradesh should also report if rehabilitation of the victim families of incidents prior to the year 2000-2001 has been completed, in terms of the measures earlier initiated by them.