Kerala:The rate of farmer suicides in Kerala has been decreased dramatically, largely on account of the debt relief commission set up by the government.
The review, released during the budget session of the state legislature, by the Kerala State Planning Board. This review makes the claim that Kerala’s GSDP increased in real terms by 8.1% in 2006-07, which is marginally higher than the previous year’s 8%. The review is to be done on the first year of the Left Democratic Front government. V S Achuthanandan will leading be this activity.

Kerala state has witnessed several farmer suicides in previous years; according to official figures there were as many as 179 cases reported from the tiny district of Wayanad alone, between 2002 and 2006. Palakkad and Kasargode are the other two major districts affected. The main priority of the government was to find a solution to the widespread farmer distress. Statutory agricultural debt relief commission was set up as government’s first initiative to solve this problem.
The commission included six-member body with members drawn from farmer organizations, legislative assembly members, judicial officers, etc, empowered to look into complaints and find redress with the resources made available in the state budget.

The commission brought a ray of hope among poor farmers who were burdened by mounting debts; in the first few months itself it received over 4.76 lakh complaints from all over the state.