Taking suo moto notice of media reports on the subject, the Allahabad high court has issued notices to the central and state governments, and has stayed recovery of dues from farmers till July 15.
The Allahabad high court has raised an accusing finger at the Mayawati government over the alarming increase in farmers’ suicides in the Bundelkhand region of southern Uttar Pradesh.
Taking suo moto notice of media reports on the subject, the court has issued notices to the central and state governments, and has stayed recovery of dues from farmers till July 15.
The court has asked the state government to explain how the central assistance of Rs7,000 crores for Bundelkhand had been utilised.
Very little has been done by the state of UP in the region to improve the lot of farmers, the bench comprising Justice Sunil Ambwani and Justice Sabhajeet Yadav noted.
Rising agricultural debt and coercive methods adopted for recovery are resulting in suicides are allegedly causing a serious human rights violation in the state, the court noted.
As many as 519 suicides have been reported from the parched and extremely backward region in the five months of this year. In the year 2009, 568 farmers and in 2010, 583 farmers have committed suicide due to various reasons in Bundelkhand as per official records.
Most of these suicides are allegedly on account of rural indebtedness. Taking cognisance of the media reports, the court noted that the region is suffering from acute drought conditions and that for last many seasons, crops have failed resulting in rising debts.
It is reported that in 2010, the total outstanding bank farm loans in the region stood at Rs3613.22 crores, which grew to Rs4370.32 crores in 2011.
“We are deeply pained and anguished over the conditions in the Bundelkhand region which are compelling farmers to commit suicide,” the court said.
The court took suo moto notice of the matter and directed that the case be registered as a PIL and notices be issued to the central government, and the state of UP.
The central and state governments are directed to submit reply on the measures taken by them for development of the area, irrigation facilities, and the status of PDS and other welfare schemes.
They will also inform the court the steps taken by the state authorities to provide for debt relief to the farmers of the region.
The UP chief secretary will submit a report to the court after collecting detailed information about each and every death, reported as suicide, from the hospitals, blocks, and police stations in the region, the studies conducted on the causes of such deaths, and the steps taken by the state to provide relief to the farmers.
The chief secretary in his report will also submit to the court details of the total rural indebtedness of the area, connected with agriculture.
In the meantime in order to avoid any more suicides in the region, the court has directed that until 15th July, 2011 the state government and other banks and financial institutions will not take any coercive steps to recover outstanding agricultural loans from the farmers.
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