National Human Rights Commission issued a notice on Tuesday to the Telangana Government over the suicides of 76 debt-ridden farmers since the formation of the new State. Within two weeks, the Chief Secretary to the Government has to submit a report in this regard. The State Government had introduced a scheme of loan waiver but only for institutional loans. Meanwhile, many farmers are still depressed by failed crops, lack of rains and the ever present shadow of the moneylender. The NHRC has taken note of this as a serious violation of human rights. Telangana government had refused to take cognizance of this tragedy for the first few months. After an uproar by the opposition parties like the Congress and the TDP, the government said it would try to take measures to arrest the trend. But in fact it had done precious little till the issue was taken up by the NHRC.
