GANESH UPADHAYAY Vs. UNION OF INDIA & OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This public interest litigation has been instituted for the redressal of grievance of farmers. The petitioner has highlighted the incidents of suicide committed by the farmers in the State of Uttarakhand. According to the averments made in the petition, there is abject poverty, high levels of indebtness and crop failures leading to suicides. Four farmers in the State of Uttarakhand have committed suicide. They have a right to live with dignity. Since the farmers are not able to repay the bank loans, they borrow money from local money lenders at an exorbitant rate of interest. There is delay on the part of government agencies for making payment to the farmers. After coming into existence of State of Uttarakhand, more than 2.26 lakh families of farmers migrated from the hill districts of the State. It is further averred that 36401 farmers were migrated from Almora followed by Pauri (35,654), Tehri (33,689), Pithoragarh (22,936), Dehradun (20,625), Chamoli (18,536), Nainital (15,075), Uttarkashi (11,710), Champawat (11,281), Rudraprayag (10,970) and Bageshwar (10,073).

(2.) According to the data complied by the Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Mahasabha, in 2016-17, only 20% agricultural land exists in the hilly areas for cultivation and remaining 80% is either lying barren or has been sold for commercial purposes. A large size of crops is also damaged by wild animals. The total cultivated area in the State is about 7,84,117 hectares. About 90% of population of the State depends on agriculture for its livelihood. The irrigated land is only 12% and 64% is fed by rain. The main crops produced in the State are rice, wheat, barely, corn, Mandua, Hangora etc. Petitioner has also highlighted that the rate of interest charged by the bankers is on the higher side. The farmers who have committed suicide are below 40 years of age.

(3.) In State of Uttarakhand, as noticed hereinabove, four (04) Farmers have committed suicide for 'bankruptcy or indebtness'. The average land holding is shrinking in the State of Uttarakhand. The agricultural land is also used for non-agricultural purposes. There is a large scale problem of migration of farmers. The farmers are not getting proper price for their crops. The farmers have not been told about the importance of MSP. The only fraction of land is under irrigation. The majority of land in hills is lying barren. The interest charged by the banks is exorbitantly high. The banks and money lenders use coercive steps forcing the farmers to commit suicides. The sensitivity level of the State machinery is very low while dealing with the problems faced by the farmers.