The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi to take appropriate action over a farmers’ suicide within eight weeks.
Acting on a petition filed by rights campaigner Subash Mohapatra, the rights panel transmitted the petition for such action as deemed appropriate.
Mohapatra had stated in his petition that the suicide of Khusiram Pradhan (25) in Sohela block in Baragarh district on March 9 and the death of another young farmers Khusiram Pradhan and the suicidal notes seized from the spots has exposed that the farmers are committing suicide due to crop loss and debt burden.
“The suicide note exposes that Khusiram was in debt from local cooperative societies and the functioning of local money lending with higher interests, which leads to exploitation of the farmers. The non-regulation of microfinance companies in the area has added the opportunities of harassment and State’s denial,” Mohapatra alleged.
The petitioner had urged the rights panel to direct the State Government for conducting a judicial probe of the instant case and trend and patter of the farmers’ suicide in the State.
He further had requested the commission to direct the State to pay a interim compensation of `10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, and strict implementation of agricultural insurance and stringent action against the microfinance and local moneylenders.
The commission has directed the Chief Secretary to inform the complainant of the action taken in the matter.