Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

16-September-2015 16:47 IST

On 15th September, 2015, consequent upon reported instance of some tobacco farmers having committed suicide on account of debt burden, the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman took a detailed review of the situation.

The Commerce & Industry Minister took cognizance of the absence of Chairman, Tobacco Board and his visit to Italy in the midst of this crisis which shows lack of sensitivity to the farmers’ issues. The Chairman, Tobacco Board has been asked to proceed on leave with immediate effect as of 15th September, 2015 until further orders. The Department of Commerce is taking immediate steps to put a senior officer in additional charge as the Chairman of Tobacco Board.

The Commerce & Industry Minister also reviewed that out of 172 million Kgs of Tobacco in Andhra Pradesh till 14th September, 2015, 142.6 million Kgs have been lifted by the trade.

The Minister has directed Tobacco Board to take immediate steps for facilitating the disposal of balance quantity of 30 million Kgs by the end of September, 2015.

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MJPS/nb

Administrative removal of Tobacco Board chair after farmer suicides; officer to assume charge and board ordered to expedite stock disposal. The Commerce and Industry Minister ordered the Tobacco Board chair to proceed on immediate leave and directed the Department of Commerce to place a senior officer in additional charge; the Minister also instructed the Board to take urgent steps to facilitate disposal of remaining tobacco stocks within a short timeframe to mitigate farmer distress.