Mumbai: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports of several farmers in Yavatmal dying due to infection caused by spraying of a pesticide on cotton crops, and issued notices to the Centre and Maharashtra government over the same.
Media reports have spoken of farmers in Yavatmal being hospitalised in the last three months due to an infection, many of whom are stated to have died while undergoing treatment.
The NHRC has said the farmers died due to the “callous and negligent attitude of the government departments.”
“It appears that due to the lack of proper awareness about such a complicated technology for spraying pesticides on cotton crops, the farmers’ Rights to Life and Livelihood have been grossly violated,” an NHRC release said.
The Government of Maharashtra (GoM) is stated to have announced an inquiry into the deaths of at least 18 Yavatmal farmers and farm labourers. The state agriculture minister has said that the farmers have not been following the directions for wearing gloves and protective clothing.
The government has decided to distribute free masks to them and has also announced compensation of Rs 12 lakh for the families of the victims.
The NHRC has sent notices to the chief secretary, GoM and the secretary, Union ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare, seeking a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. “The chief secretary of Maharashtra government has also been directed to ensure that the best treatment is provided free of cost to the farmers, who are either admitted to the hospital or taking treatment as an outpatient. He has been asked to inform about the steps taken to stop recurrence of such incidents and the action against the guilty officers,” stated a release from the NHRC.
The NHRC has also sought for the details of ex-gratia relief paid to the victims and rehabilitation of the aggrieved families along with the policy perspective on the issue.
The commission has observed that most of the farmers in the country are not adequately literate and rely on the government agencies for the safe use of the agricultural products and the ancillary techniques.
