Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 29. Taking cognisance of the news report, “In Punjab, three farmers kill selves every two days,” published in The Tribune on May 27, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) today registered a complaint and sought a report from the state government.
The report had said that an estimated 5,000 farmers and farm labourers had committed suicide in Punjab between 2000 to 2010 because of financial reasons.
“The news item has been considered by the Full Commission. Let it be registered as a complaint. A report under Section 17(i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act be called for from the Principal Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Home, well before July 23, 2012, on which date the case shall come up before the Commission for further consideration,” the PSHRC directed.
The report was based on the findings of a government commissioned survey conducted by three universities – Punjabi University, Patiala; Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
The commission has also taken cognisance of another news report, “Punjab’s aided schools face staff shortage,” published in The Tribune last week. While registering it as a complaint, it called for a report on the issue from the Principal Secretary, Department of Education.
The report had said that the studies of more than five lakh students was being hit with aided schools were being run with less than half the sanctioned staff strength.
