India: Farmers' suicides & mining scam in Odisha

It is a matter of great concern for all of us that we find the farmers of Odisha are opting short cut route to commit suicide to get rid of their financial problems in which they are pushed into. The extreme step taken by them is believed to be the act of total failure of all other efforts to bail them out of the crisis in which they have been trapped. It can also be seen as the complete loss of faith on the state to come to their rescue but we need to look much beyond this -Why?

Why such drastic step in a state that has all the resources that can make it one of the most prosperous state of the country? It is known to all that the back bone of Odisha is farming and farm related activities on which more than 70% of the population of the state depends for their livelihood.

What is even more surprising is that while the prices of all the food products are sky rocketing, we find our farmers who produce the same are in total despair and economic ruins. This exposes another fact that except the producer i.e. farmers, all other players in the trade are making money as is the scenario in non-timber forest produces.

The state is having vast resources of natural wealth both above and beneath its soil. Bauxite, Chromites, Manganese, Iron Ore, Coal, Dolomite and other minerals, Timber and many forest products above the soil in the forests, round the year flowing rivers but still the plight of our farmers is pathetic. State is a welfare state but due to huge corruption in practically each and every sector, the welfare angle is lost in the middle of bureaucratic puzzle where art of inking Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) has taken over other priorities but we are hardly bothered to see, why despite of all these favorable conditions, over half of our people in the State are living in absolute poverty.

While wealth is accumulated in the hands of a handful few, the farmers and tribals are in their economic ruins. A visit to any rural area will expose the hard reality of hopeless health care or education facilities, where even proper minimum infrastructure needs are not in a proper place. Corruption in practically each and every field is another cause of worry. We have seen one scam after another, latest in the list is the huge Mining scam of several thousands of Crores that is seen as tip of the ice berg by many.

It has been found that the farmer's suicide cases have a direct relationship with the mining scam. Odisha government has not been able to allocate adequate funds to the agriculture sector due to the resource crunch. The revenue flow to the state is choked as the revenue which should go to the state exchequer is grabbed by the scamsters in the scams like in the mining sector.

State governments are duty bound to do welfare of the people of the state but here in the state of Odisha, we find that the welfare angle is missing. If we compare our state with the miner-less Gujarat, Punjab or Harayana and Kerala, we find far behind them. We have problems of earning livelihood, where as in those states farm workers are not available even at INR 200 per day. Those states hardly have any mineral wealth but are riding on the wave of success and prosperity.

We need to look at if we are sailing on a wrong boat? Are we committing one mistake after another? Are we pampering our industrial and mining corporations at the cost of neglect of our farm sector? Have we forgotten to strengthen our non-farm sector in the rural areas of the state? Are we doing justice to the state and National Policies? Are we not in the risk of exhausting our mineral wealth much faster? Are we not responsible for causing irreparable losses for our generations to come?

Both farmers' suicides and the mining scam are inter-related and need an in-depth discussion and debate by the civil society. The main focus of the debate and discuss in the meeting will be to identify the reasons for the farmers' suicides and mining scam and how to resolve both the issues.

The members participating in the meeting will also explore whether the civil society can move to National Human Rights Commission requesting them to intervene like it has done in other cases.

It will also be explored whether the attention of Prime Minister can be drawn to consider a Special Package for the farmers of the State. And, how to launch a campaign to improve governance. Finally, how to strengthen the farmers' organisations in the state to demand their rights and privileges.

Janta Vikas Manch on the completion of one year of its existence has made a humble effort to discuss all the above points by providing a platform along with Agragamee where we all will address, discuss and try to come out with a possible solution. It may not be possible in a day, but humble beginning should be made. We need to look beyond this meet, as such, in the concluding part of our program we aim to come out with a possible action plan / Resolution that can be carried forward. Together we can do the needful is our belief.

We invite you all the confirmed participants at this important discussion forum which will be held on 29 November, 2009, for active participation.

For further information, please contact: Janata Vikas Manch: janatavikasmanch@gmail.com About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984


Source:reliefweb.int