HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy on Saturday directed officials to register criminal cases against money-lenders who were forcing farmers to commit suicide after failing to clear their debts.

The Minister -- who reviewed with officials issues including farmers' suicides and compensation paid to the victims' families -- felt that the step would reduce the level of harassment. However, the officials should make sure that the suicides resulted from harassment by money-lenders, before registering cases, he added.

He said a bill to regulate private money-lending business would be introduced in the ensuing session of the Assembly. Till the enactment, the Minister wanted officials to initiate action against money-lenders under existing laws, citing 306 IPC and also the law being implemented in Telangana and Andhra regions.

According to a press release, Mr. Reddy expressed unhappiness when officials told him that no action had been initiated so far against money-lenders for causing suicides.

Decline in suicides

It quoted the Minister as saying that ryots' suicides had declined following various steps taken by the Government. Mr. Reddy asked officials of the Agriculture, Revenue and Police departments to send district-wise reports on farmers' suicides, their causes and suggest steps required to be taken by the administration to prevent them.

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