Kochi: The Kerala High Court has issued
notices to the Central and state governments on a PIL seeking
a direction to the Union Government to provide financial aid
to debt-ridden farmers in the state.
The notices were issued by a division bench comprising
Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R
Ramachandra Menon on a PIL by lawyer Basil Attipetty.
The petitioner said some farmers cultivating ginger and
banana in Waynad district and other parts of the state had
taken loans from various financial institutions and ended
their lives following debt burden after their crops failed.
Maintaining that the Centre was "duty bound" to protect
the lives of farmers, the petitioner said the union government
should provide financial assistance to the state government to
help the farmers.
The petitioner also sought a direction to state Farmers
Debt Relief Commission to provide immediate relief to farmers
in Wayanad district.
PTI
