Human rights body awaits farmer suicides report from Maharashtra

The Chief Secretary of Maharashtra is yet to give his version of the farmer suicides in September, 2012, despite the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) notice seeking a reply to the incidents within four weeks of its receipt date, which ended on November 19.

The apex human rights panel issued the notice to the Chief Secretary based on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy who highlighted the sorry state of farmers in Vidarbha region of the state.

As many as 565 farmers had ended their lives since January this year owing to the acute agrarian crisis in the region, the petitioner said.

Shivaji Wagh and Baliram Wagh of Pokhari village, Ramesh Kharat of Giroli village and Prakash Jadhav of Koregoan village in Buldhana district, Sunil Choudhari of Karanja Tehsil in Washim district, Yashwant Chavhan of Sultanpur village in Amravati district and Shankar Mudalkar of Yari village in Yavatmal district have reportedly committed suicide in four days of September, Radhakanta said.

Baliram Wagh and Shivaji Wagh, who hanged themselves in two hours, are father and son. It is reported that Baliram had committed suicide around 10 am on Saturday and the news of his death led his father to end his life. With the suicides of seven farmers, allegedly prompted by a massive pest attack on their crops causing huge loss, the toll of farmers’ suicide in Vidarbha reached 59 in September.

He requested the NHRC to investigate the issue, carry out post mortem examination, file a magisterial enquiry report of the incidents and direct the government of Maharashtra to ensure the farmers of human rights and pay compensation to the kin of the deceased.