Farmers need full protection, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over a number of farmers committing suicide across the country, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to come out with a comprehensive scheme to protect farmers during pre-harvest, post-harvest and for sale of their produce at a minimum support price.

A  Bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul wanted the Union Government to take steps to prevent farmers suicides by addressing their problems, instead of focusing on payment of compensation alone.

The CJI told additional solicitor general P.S. Narasimha that farmers suffered losses whenever there was a bumper crop causing the market price to fall or a crop failure due to drought or flood or the quality of the produce is below the standards. Mr. Narasimha, however, submitted that the Centre had taken several measures to improve the financial condition of farmers by offering crop insurance and farm credit with interest waiver. He said the Centre was coordinating with the states in the implementation of various policies aimed at helping farmers. He further said the Centre had put in place as many as 12 schemes and since 2015 efforts were focused on strengthening farmers’ finances.

ASG: Scheme to end farm suicides
The ASG said the Centre had already held discussions with states where suicide of farmers was more and asked them to follow comprehensive measures. He said disillusionment of farmers over crop loss results in suicide and the Centre was in the process of formulating a model scheme to protect the interests of farmers and this scheme can be followed by all states.

At this juncture the CJI said as farmers have no other employment if there was crop loss, the scheme must focus on providing alternative employment opportunities in the event of drought or other natural calamities.

The CJI said “You (Centre) cannot have a situation where three lakh farmers commit suicide. You must take immediate steps to improve the situation with reference to farmer suicides. Consider the pre-harvest and post-harvest situation and also in giving minimum support price for their products.”

Appearing for NGO Citizens Resource and Action Initiative, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves submitted that despite various reports of expert groups, the problem of farmer suicides has not been adequately addressed.

In the last hearing the Court had sought response of the Centre and all states on the NGO’s allegation that drought and debt drove more than 600 farmers to commit suicide in Gujarat alone between 2003 and 2012, when Narendra Modi was the CM.

The court wanted to know whether there was any policy on crop loans when there is a natural calamity. The Bench also wanted the RBI to indicate the policy on loan waiver in such situations.