More than 100 farmers committed suicide in Wayanad in last 15 years

KALPETTA: In the report submitted to the Human Rights Commission, District Collector Dr Renu Raj stated that more than 100 farmers have committed suicide in Wayanad due to debt in the last one and a half decades.

Loan facilities in private financial institutions are becoming a headache for farmers. Farmers resort to suicide when they are unable to repay their loans. Farmers generally approach government banks for agricultural loans. However, they are forced to over-depend on private financial institutions because of the stringent conditions in government banks. Meanwhile, private financial institutions grant easy loans with exorbitant interest rates and strict repayment terms. Their high interest rates financially squeeze the farmers.

Human Rights Commission Acting Chairman K Baijunath sought the Collector's report on the complaint of human rights activist Adv V Devdas. On the basis of the report, the Acting Chairman directed the Chief Secretary to take immediate action to prevent farmer suicides. The Chief Secretary was also directed to make the information about the farmer assistance schemes available within three months.