The Himachal Pradesh High Court today observed that State Government should either consider waive off the loans of small and marginal peasants taken upto Rs.50000 or allow them to pay the same in affordable instalments.
Passing the orders about the matter today, Division Bench of Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Suresh Thakur said that Government should set up Farmers’ Commission and provide the farmers a farm insurance scheme as they are under stress due to the failure of subsequent crops.
Passing order on the petition filed by Bhartiya Govansh Rakshan Sanverdhan Parishad, the bench held that owning to peculiar topographical and geographical conditions, peasants are dependent on rain fed agriculture. “Most of the farmers are unorganized having no forum to raise their issues. Therefore, State should address their concern intervening to protect their interests.” Bench said.
The court emphasized that farmer commissions should be constitute as per the recommendation of Swaminathan panel recommendations. Order further said that State Government should consider the recommendations of the commission and if not accepted, cogent reasons must be assigned.
The peasantry is under tremendous stress, the bench held in 39 paged humane order passed on Wednesday and released to media today.
The Court listed the matter to June 13, the judges directed the State to formulate a scheme for waiver of loans raised by the small and marginal peasants at least upto Rs. 50000 or the alternative to permit them to pay the loans in instalments by reducing their rate of interest.
The chief secretary was directed to formulate a scheme for providing crop insurance cover in consultation with the national insurance companies within 6 months at a minimal premium, said the order.
Taking cognizance that the stray cattle are playing havoc with the crops, the judges said neither the state government nor urban and local bodies have taken any steps to eradicate the menace. This menace can only be addressed by housing stray cattle in cattle sheds, they said.
The bench directed the panchayati raj, urban development and animal husbandry additional chief secretaries to release Rs.5 crore each, subject to availability of funds, to the urban bodies for the construction of cattle sheds within three months.
