7 farmers commit suicide in 72 hours in Vidarbha: NHRC notice to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary<br> <br>

New Delhi, September 12th, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra on the basis of a media report alleging that seven farmers committed suicide in the past 72 hours in the Vidarbha region. The press report was carried on 4th September, 2012. The Chief Secretary has been asked to respond to the allegations within six weeks.

Allegedly, Dhayneshwer Thakary, Pramod Mamankar, Kanikrao Kukade, Vitthal Bhogare, Shyam Sahare, Doulat Kukade and Chakradhar Choudhary were those who committed suicide recently. As per documentation done by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), 528 farmers had committed suicide in the Vidarbha region between the 1st January and the 2nd September this year. The cause of suicides, as reported in the press report, was damage to the cash crops like soya, paddy and cotton because of heavy rain in the area.

The Commission has observed that the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of farmers.

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