Complaints Before the Commission ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Rapporteur, NHRC as a Member to monitor the rehabilitation of the displaced tribal families as well as to consider the facilities to be extended to the tribal families for their rehabilitation like housing, medical aid, etc. and ensure that their rehabilitation process is completed expeditiously. 4.150 Upon consideration of the report, the Commission expressed hope that the Committee would take expeditious steps for proper rehabilitation of the displaced tribal families. It requested the State Government to keep the Commission informed of the various steps being taken in that direction and to submit a progress report. As the requisite progress report was not received, the Commission directed the Chairman of the Committee viz., Dy. Commissioner, Mysore to expedite the rehabilitation process and submit a status report to the Commission. The report however, is still awaited. 26. Suicide of farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala - Case No.208/1/20042005 (FC) (LF 444/1/2001-2002 & 488/1/2004-2005) 4.151 The Commission took suo-motu cognizance of various news items reporting incidents of suicide by farmers in Andhra Pradesh due to crop failure and mounting debt burden. It was alleged in the report that since 1998 more than 1000 farmers had committed suicide while the non-official sources put the deaths at over 3000. The Commission also received a petition from Dr. Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy the then leader of opposition, alleging negligent attitude of the State Government in formulating a policy to tackle the situation arising out of suicide being committed by the farmers in the State. 4.152 The Commission got the matter examined through its Special Rapporteur, who submitted a detailed report containing various recommendations. The gist of the suggestions made by the Special Rapporteur are as under: (a) Necessary measures like generation of employment through public works, social security measures, old-age pension, etc. have to be taken by up the State Government (b) Cancellation of debt incurred with public institution and banks in all cases of suicide deaths (c) Ex-gratia relief of minimum Rs. 2 lakhs to the families of each suicide victim. In addition, a further amount not exceeding Rs.1 lakh for each family to settle the debts (d) Review of policy in regard to regulation of the private trade in seeds and pesticides and fertilizer pricing as well as the Credit Policy. 4.153 In their comments on the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur, NHRC, 52 AR-Chapter-1-19-10-6-06.p65 National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005 72 7/17/06, 6:29 PM