Farmers’ Suicide: OHRC asks Odisha Govt to submit ATR by Dec 2

Bhubaneswar, Nov 3: Taking serious note over farmers’ suicide in the state, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) directed the state government to take appropriate action to stop such incidents further in the state.

On Monday, considering a petition filed by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), the OHRC asked the state government to submit action taken report by December 2.

OPCC President, Prasad Harichandan slammed the BJD government in the state for its inaction over farmers’ suicide issue. He urged distress farmers in the state not take such extreme step for incurring loss in cultivation.

Addressing a press conference here, Harichandan blamed the state government ministers for not visiting to the places where farmers committed suicide and not paying any heed towards the plight of the distressed farmers. He termed the state government’s policies as ‘anti-farmer’ and farmers suicides as ‘major-crisis’.

In his petition to OHRC, Harichandan had urged the commission to direct the state government to enhance minimum support price for paddy to Rs.2,500, to waive crop loans and to give ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh to the families of the farmers those committed suicide. He had urged the commission for the investigation into the farmers suicide occurred in last one year in the state.