No talk on farmer suicides during NHRC chief's visit to MP

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday said it has not received any grievances pertaining to farmers' suicide cases.

State human rights commission had in 2011 took cognisance of incidences of farmers committing suicide and had prepared an expert committee report.

The National Human Rights Commission Chairman K G Balakrishnan today had a meeting with state chief secretary Antony Disa, Director General of Police Nandan Dubey and other senior officials and members of non-government organisations.

"None raised any issue pertaining to farmers' suicide," said Balakrishnan. In its report submitted to the state government, the state human rights commission had said, high input cost leading to crop failure, debts, and eventually extreme stress conditions were the main reasons behind farmers committing suicide in Madhya Pradesh.

The NHRC began a three-day open hearing to examine 74 complaints related to human rights violations. The commission visited the state to improve the human rights scenario in Madhya Pradesh, which has a large "marginalised population."

The complaints which NHRC received, he said, were mainly related to rehabilitation,discrimination and compensation for displacement, said the official.

On Thursday, the commission had ordered Rs 5.5 crore to kin of 120 victims of Ratangarh Temple stampede in Datia district take took place ten months ago. The stampede at the temple took place during October 13, 2013 during Navratri when devotees were going to the temple to offer prayers.

As many as 120 people were reportedly killed and many received sever injured in the tragedy.The Commission also ordered to conduct a health survey for all the migrating workers in the Jhabua district that shares its borders with Gujarat state. "Laboureres migrate from Jhabua and works in nearby mines in Gujarat. They acquire a deadly disease silicosis," he said.