NHRC sends notice to Karnataka over farmer suicides

New Delhi: The NHRC has issued notice to the Karnataka government after 16 farmers committed suicide upon failing to get adequate price for their crop, an official said on Thursday.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, has asked the state`s chief secretary to submit a report within four weeks.

“The farmers committed suicide in Mandya district as sugar mills were paying just Rs.700 to Rs.800 for a tonne of their sugarcane as against the government`s assured purchase price of Rs.2,500 per tonne,” said NHRC in a statement here.

“The suicides are of grave concern and call for prompt and quick remedial steps by the government,” it added.

IANS