An RTI application intended to seek information about farmers suicide in the state of Gujarat dated between January 2020 to January 2024. However, the Additional Director General of Police of Gujarat Police, CID Crime and Railways, informed the applicant that CID Crime is exempted from providing information under the act.

The reply stated that the application under the Right to Information Act-2005 has been transferred to the office of CID Crime and Railways, but CID Crime is exempted from providing information under Section-24(4) of the Right to Information Act-2005 under Gujarat Government Notification No. SB-1/102001/8203/GOI-62 (Part File), so the information sought by the applicant cannot be provided.

The RTI applicant said, “The government's anti-farmer economic policy, including expensive seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fertilizers and labor costs, and the cost of electricity and irrigation for one hectare of land can reach up to one lakh rupees.”

“However, the crop damage caused by nature is never fully compensated, the full price of the crop is not received, and the farmers are forced to commit suicide due to the notices from banks, who are unable to maintain their dignity and cannot feed their families,” he added.

He said that earlier in 2007, the Gujarat state information commission had made all the information available in the public domain and based on that information, a petition was filed before the Supreme Court to prevent farmer suicides in the country and the state.

“The Supreme Court had ordered that despite the government making a proper permanent policy, why did the Gujarat government not disclose the statistics of farmers committing suicide,” Zala said.