The Tamil Nadu government blamed heart attacks, illness and, “in certain cases,” suicides for deaths of its farmers reeling under severe drought.
The State, in an affidavit perused by the Supreme Court on Friday, said it had received information about the causes of farmers’ deaths through reports from district collectors.
Silence chided
The State was responding to the apex court’s concern about the plight of farmers, who have resorted to taking their own lives, unable to bear the burden of the harsh life conditions brought upon them by the drought.
A Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra chided the State for its silence and lack of concern as farmers die. The court recorded in an order that the plight of the farmers “has the potentiality to disturb the conscience of any sensitive soul”.
But the State maintained that it has “always been sensitive to the plight of farmers”. It said relief was paid from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the families of deceased farmers who were poor. So far, ₹2.46 crore has been disbursed to the families of 82 farmers who died. Each family has got ₹3 lakh, the State said.
Tamil Nadu said it has also sought central assistance to the tune of ₹39,565 crore through its drought memorandum submitted in January 2017. Of this, the State has received ₹1,748.28 crore in drought relief.
‘Hand-held the poor’
The government said it has always “hand-held” its poor farmers through their times of distress. “In the previous year of drought in 2012, the Government of Tamil Nadu sanctioned relief to the extent of ₹1,377 crore to help the drought-affected population. Likewise, consequent to the floods of 2015-16, the government disbursed a sum of ₹407.57 crore as relief to 7.62 lakh farmers in order to enable them to get out of their misery,” the affidavit filed for the State through advocate Yogesh Kanna said.
Loans to the tune of ₹1,840.79 crore were given to 3,48,323 farmers to help them tide over the effects of demonetisation, the State said.
“T.N. has also issued crop loans to 7,62,772 farmers for an amount of ₹4,227.98 crore through co-operative banks during 2016-17,” the State submitted in court. It said Tamil Nadu has faced one of the most severe droughts in over 100 years, but the government has remained proactive and cared for its farmers through a multifarious approach. “Tamil Nadu is always farmer-centric and has brought revolutionary initiatives in agriculture,” the affidavit said.
The court has posted the case for hearing on May 2.
The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an organisation represented by advocate C.R. Jaya Sukin, challenging the Madras High Court decision of February 14. The HC had, without looking into the merits of the issue, asked the organisation to obtain details of the State's welfare schemes for farmers through an RTI request.
