NHRC takes cognizance of mass suicides of farmers in Karnataka

The National Human Rights Commission has asked its Special Rapporteur, Shri K.R. Venugopal for an on the spot enquiry into mass suicide committed by a family of six members in Koppal District, Karnataka and send his comments within four weeks to it. This decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Full Commission in response to a joint complaint from Shri Kodanda Ramaiah, a former Member of Parliament, and a number of others.

In their compliant, the petitioners pointed out that Karnataka was facing drought for the third year in succession due to failure of monsoons. Though there were reports that about 150 farmers committed suicides every year in the last three years following their inability to repay the loans and interest, they alleged that the State Government had not waived the interest or postponed the recoveries.

The petitioners highlighted an atypical case of mass suicides due to poverty that took place on July 31, 2003 in Makta Rampura Village, Kushtagi Taluk, Koppal District. There was a family which consisted of the father, mother, four sons and four daughters. It had 4 acres of `D' Class land in the village which in the best of times would yield one crop of jowar, which is less than sufficient for their subsistence. Due to continued malnutrition, the members of the family have been distraught and disheartened. The family had no ration card which is called the Anthyodaya Card or BPL card. The green card which the family held in 1992-93 was discontinued by the Government on the ground that new BPL cards would be issued. The petitioners sought the intervention of the Commission in the issue of issuing new cards in place of green cards describing it as a "racket".

The eldest daughter in the family, Kumari Veerabasava died at 4 AM on 31 July 2003 due to malnutrition. Three brothers and three sisters, who were with the deceased sister at the time of death were so overwhelmed by her death that they all committed suicide fearing that their fate would be no better if they survived at below subsistence level. The petitioners alleged that extreme poverty and hunger led the family to end their lives while the State Government had stated that the suicides were as a result of poverty and refuted any suggestion hunger was their prime cause. They further maintained that the suicides were primarily because of hunger as result of poverty caused by drought and absence of drought relief works in the area.

They further alleged that there were many other cases which the Government has been hushing up as `unnatural deaths'. They further alleged that dead bodies were burnt to cover up evidence though their family tradition was to bury.

They requested the Commission to conduct detailed enquiries by deputing its own staff to find out the truth for the tragic end of innocent persons due to hunger precipitated by poverty with a view to ensuring that remaining three members of the family get suitable relief and the State Government takes steps to prevent loss of human lives.