Oppn takes govt to task on Debt Relief Commission

Thiruvananthapuram, June 28 (UNI) The Opposition took the government to task in the Kerala Assembly today for not deputing the required staff and releasing funds to the Agricultural Debt Relief Commission constituted to recommend relief to debt-ridden farmers in the state.

Seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the issue, Mr C F Thomas (KC-M) said though the Commission headed by retired High Court Judge K A Abdul Ghafoor was constituted five months ago, the required staff and funds were not made available to it for its effective functioning.

Nearly 2.5 lakh applications from farmers were pending before the Commission for want of staff, he said and alleged the government was trying to obstruct its functioning thereby denying relief to the farmers.

Pointing out that 101 debt-ridden farmers had committed suicide since the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government came to power a year ago, Mr Thomas said the suicide rates could have been brought down considerbaly had the Commission was allowed to function properly.

Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy said though the government had shown undue enthusiasm in making enactment for the formation of the Commission, no steps had been taken for its functioning by deputing necessary staff and releasing funds.

Replying to notice for the motion, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said the last Cabinet meeting had decided to create 16 posts and set apart Rs 25 lakh for the Commission's functioning.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan assured the agitated Opposition members that all possible steps would be taken for the effective functioning of the Commission.

Delay in deputing necessary staff and making available required funds would be enquired into.

Speaker K Radhakrishnan refused leave for the motion folowing the replies of the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister.

Mr Justice Ghafoor had come down heavily on the government at a news conference here yesterday for not allotting necessary staff and funds for the functioning of the Commission.

UNI