Rights panel seeks report on farmers’ claims pending so far

Tribune News Services

Chandigarh, September 15

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) today took congnisance of The Tribune story on farmers not getting relief under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY).

The story had appeared on September 14 on page 1 of the newspaper.

The Bench, comprising Justice SK Mittal (retd), Justice KC Puri (retd) and member Deep Bhatia, observed that “prima facie it appeared that the farmers who sold their vegetables below the fixed price were not being given the benefit of the BBY.

“As per the news item, a farmer namely Joginder Singh had suffered a loss by selling 80 quintals of bitter gourd below the fixed price and had submitted his claim but the concerned authorities have not taken any action so far even though more than one year has elapsed,” the Commission noted.

It added, “Non-action on part of government officers/officials on the claims submitted by the farmers amounts to the violation of their human rights as the authorities concerned should have taken the immediate action on the same.”

The Commission ordered, “In view of this, let reports be requisitioned from the Executive Officer, Marketing Committee, Karnal, as well as Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Committee, Sector 6, Panchkula, as to how many farmers have submitted their claims for giving them the benefit of the scheme framed by the government namely Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBP), why the same have been kept pending till date and why the same have not been disposed of immediately on the receipt of the claims submitted by the farmers.”

The reports have been called by December 22, the next date of hearing.