NHRC pulls up Maharashtra govt over compensation to kin
18 Feb 2015 12:23 AM GMT
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Maharashtra government after reports surfaced that families of 2731 farmers who committed suicide in Maharashtra were held ineligible to get compensation. The commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a news report that the families of 2731 farmers who committed suicide during the last four years in Maharashtra were not eligible to get even a paltry sum of Rs 1 lakh as compensation under the Government rules.
NHRC has observed that the contents of the report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of families of the farmers who committed suicide in Maharashtra.Â
Accordingly, it has issued notice to the chief secretary, Government of Maharashtra calling for a report within two weeks. The Commission has also decided to club this issue with five similar cases registered in the year 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 relating to farmers’ suicide in Maharashtra and which are pending due to non-receipt of requisite reports from the State Government.
Quoting the contents of the Maharashtra Government’s reply to an RTI application filed by an activist, the media report said that a total of 5698 farmers committed suicide in the rural Maharashtra since 2011. However, spouses of 2731 victims were found ineligible to receive Government aid, either because the deceased did not have a bank loan against the cultivation planned in that season or did not own a piece of land. The activists have been demanding for an urgent review of the compensation system to strengthen the agrarian economy.
NHRC has observed that the contents of the report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of families of the farmers who committed suicide in Maharashtra.Â
Accordingly, it has issued notice to the chief secretary, Government of Maharashtra calling for a report within two weeks. The Commission has also decided to club this issue with five similar cases registered in the year 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 relating to farmers’ suicide in Maharashtra and which are pending due to non-receipt of requisite reports from the State Government.
Quoting the contents of the Maharashtra Government’s reply to an RTI application filed by an activist, the media report said that a total of 5698 farmers committed suicide in the rural Maharashtra since 2011. However, spouses of 2731 victims were found ineligible to receive Government aid, either because the deceased did not have a bank loan against the cultivation planned in that season or did not own a piece of land. The activists have been demanding for an urgent review of the compensation system to strengthen the agrarian economy.
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