Demanding compensation for the loss of work during the recent past when agricultural activities came to a standstill because of lack of rains, members of the Tamil Maanila Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam affiliated to the Communist Party of India (CPI) launched a round-the-clock sit in protest in several spots in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts on Monday.
The demands included immediate constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee, grant of ₹25,000 as solatium for the loss of work to farm workers in the recent lean agricultural period, hiked grant of 30 kg free rice to cardholders a month, work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) all through the year, grant of ₹410 as minimum wages a day to beneficiaries under the MGNREGS, expanding the scope of the MGNREGS to cover town panchayats and municipalities and waiver of all SHG loans availed by the farm workers.
In Thanjavur, the CPI’s Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam State general secretary V. Duraimanikkam inaugurated the protest near the Panagal Buildings in the presence of Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam district president G. Krishnan and district secretary C. Pakkirisamy.
In Tiruvarur, the protest was held near the RDO Office where former MLA Periyasamy launched the stir. CPI district secretary V. Selvaraj led the protest that was launched by former MLA V. Sivapunniyam in Mannargudi, while at Tiruthuraipoondi former MLA C. Ulaganathan led the stir inaugurated by former MLA Palanisamy.
Similar protests have been launched in Nidamangalam, Valangaiman, Kudavasal and Nannilam.
In Nagapattinam district, the main protest commenced at the Avuri Thidal where union secretary Nagarathinam and union president Jagannathan presided over the event inaugurated by the Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam district secretary Srinivasan.
The CPI district secretary and former MP Selvaraj spoke.
Sit-in protests were also being organised at Mayiladuthurai, Sirkali, Vedaranyam and Kollidam as well.
