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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Farmer Suicides: NHRC Raps State Over Report Delay

Farmer Suicides: NHRC Raps State Over Report Delay

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published Published on Sep 9, 2014   modified Modified on Sep 9, 2014
-The New Indian Express

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government's stoic silence over reasons that have driven farmers across the State to end their lives has drawn the wrath of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). With the Government not even bothering to submit a report in this connection as desired by the rights panel since last two years, the latter has served a six-week ultimatum to the Chief Secretary to comply with the order.

In April, 2012, the State Government had told a camp court of NHRC at Bhubaneswar that it examined the reports about farmers' suicides and concluded that though they ended their lives, none did so because of crop failure or related reasons.

However, not satisfied with the State Government's explanation, the NHRC had asked the Chief Secretary to indicate the reasons behind the suicides and submit a report within six weeks but no such report has been filed by the State Government till date. In its latest order, the rights panel stated that the Chief Secretary must consider the facts and circumstances stated by Special Rapporteur of NHRC Damodar Sarangi for farmer suicides. "The Chief Secretary is requested to explain how and on what basis the Government came to such a conclusion that none of the farmers committed suicide because of crop failure or related reasons and whether the conclusion was based on any report of inquiry into the reported suicides," the order stated. During the hearing two years ago, the Agriculture department had informed the NHRC that the State Government had set up a Farmers' Commission to address the issues of farmers and suggest measures to enhance their income through various means. The commission's tenure was fixed for a period of six months. Taking note of the fact, the NHRC has also directed the Government to inform whether the Farmers' Commission submitted its report and made any recommendations, and if the latter initiated any actions based on the report and recommendations. It has also asked for a copy of the report within six weeks. The NHRC is slated to hear the matter on September 29. Crop failure and growing debt caused by drought and other climatic conditions have led to a rise in suicides by the farmers in the State although the BJD Government has flatly denied any such instance in the past. Last year, the State Congress had alleged that during the BJD rule in the State, at least 2,978 farmers committed suicide.

What NCRB report says

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)'s annual statistics seems to call the bluff of Odisha Government. The Accidents and Suicides Report for 2013 says at least 150 persons who were employed in farm sector in Odisha ended their lives. It accounts for 2.9 per cent of the total suicides - 5,252 - recorded in 2013. Across India, at least 11,744 persons who were engaged in farm sector ended their lives last year.


The New Indian Express, 8 September, 2014, http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Farmer-Suicides-NHRC-Raps-State-Over-Report-Delay/2014/09/08/article2420335.ece


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