The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought action taken reports (ATRs) from the Collectors and Superintendents of Police of six different districts of Odisha over suicide committed by the farmers in the State.
The apex human rights watchdog passed the order acting on a petition filed by rights activist Sitakanta Tripathy.
The petitioner cited some examples of the farmers who died following their suicides in Bhadrak, Khordha and Kendrapada districts.
Tripathy said that suicides by farmers are not new in Odisha. According to Government records, between 1997 and 2008, 3,500-odd farmers killed themselves. In 2009, some 40 farmers in the western Odisha districts of Sambalpur and Bolangir committed suicide. Maximum farmer suicides in a year took place in 1998, when 418 farmers killed self across the State.
The facts and circumstances of the case clearly indicates painful and alarming situation in the State and amounts to terrible violation of human rights of the farmers, Tripathy alleged.
He requested the NHRC to investigate the case in detail and direct the State to take legal action against the errant officials, pay compensation of `30 lakh to each family of the deceased farmers, ask the Government if it has rehabilitated the dependents of the deceased farmers and ensure basic human rights.