The Hindu Business Line : Probe panel to give interim report on AP farmers' suicides

MR L. Rama Chenna Reddy, a retired district and sessions judge heading the one-man commission of inquiry into farmers' suicides in the State, said that he would submit an interim report by the end of next month.

Talking to newspersons here on Wednesday, Mr Reddy, who took charge on October 1, said that the stipulated time of two months from the date of his assuming charge for submitting the commission's report was not sufficient. Hence, he would submit an interim report by next month and seek extension of the commission's term for submitting the final report.

As per the terms of reference, the commission would inquire into the circumstances leading to incidents of farmers' suicides in the State between July 1, 1998 and August 23, 2004.

The commission will also assess, among other aspects, the effectiveness of the policies of the previous Government in giving adequate support to the farming community, identify lapses, if any, on the part of the authorities, determine to what extent long drought spells have been responsible for suicide by farmers, suggest the possibilities of a permanent solution to the problem of assured irrigation and give recommendations for necessary corrective mechanism to improve the situation of farmers.

Suicide figures: Meanwhile, the State Minister for Agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, has said that 447 farmers committed suicide after the Congress Government came to power in the State.

"Of the 912 cases brought to our notice, there were 447 farmer-related suicides," he said while addressing a symposium on the `Role of the State and social organisations in prevention of suicides' here on Wednesday.

"Unlike the previous Government, we don't hide anything. We do accept that they are committing suicide. But we are taking a number of steps to stop them from taking the extreme step," he said. The symposium was organised by the Hyderabad Psychological Association.

"We disbursed a compensation of Rs 14.62 crore for the kin of 975 farmers who committed suicide during July 1998 and May 2004," the Minister said.

"The kin of 335 farmers who committed suicide after we took over in May got Rs 5.25 crore in compensation."

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