HC summons Osmanabad, Akola collectors on farmers’ suicide

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has summoned the district collectors of Osmanabad and Akola and the deputy secretary of the state ministry of agriculture to inform the court of steps taken so far to assist farmers in the region.

The high court took suo motu cognisance of the rising instances of farmers’ suicide in the Marathwada region, the two districts being the worst-hit.

The court has also asked the state government whether it is willing to constitute a dedicated cell at the Mantralaya to monitor the implementation of the schemes for farmers and the status of the families of the 660 farmers that committed suicide in the region the past year.

A division bench of justice Naresh Patil and SB Shukre has directed the collectors and deputy secretaries to remain present on January 21, the next date of the hearing, and apprise it of the details of financial aid provided to the families of such farmers in the region who committed suicide owing to financial distress.

The order came after the bench was informed by some representatives of the farmers’ unions that according to the state’s rules, such families are provided financial aid only after they are able to furnish the forensic and medical reports of the deceased.

The procurement of such paperwork takes a lot of time and thus, several families have to wait for months to secure any aid.

“The government pleader shall call for a report from collectors of all the districts in the drought-affected regions in respect of the pending cases wherein owing to want of report, concerning cause of death or concerned committee’s report, financial aid has not been provided to the affected families,” the bench said.

Earlier, the bench had also directed the state government to consider making crop insurance compulsory for all farmers in the state, and providing space to farmers at government markets so that they can directly sell their produce to consumers, thereby eliminating middlemen.