The Communist Party of India (Marxist) would stage a demonstration in front of the Collectorate, on the day of the commencement of the Assembly session on November 8, demanding the inclusion of temple and trust lands under the Kalaignar's housing scheme.
Talking to journalists on the occasion of the party's district committee meeting here on Sunday, K.Balakrishnan, state president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said the erstwhile united Thanjavur district had vast tracts of land under the temple administration. Those people living in hutments without pattas on temple and trust lands were poor . “Bomiyarpalayam near Dindivanam is a village of thatched settlements. But since the entire village belongs to a temple, the scheme will not cover the village,” he said.
The party has called for the inclusion of Town Panchayats and Municipalities under the scheme. “For the district like Nagapattinam , exclusion of Town Panchayats and Municipality will be defeatist, as there are large numbers of hutments. In Thirukuvalai, Kalaignar's birth place, of the 486 hutments, only 213 have been listed under the scheme. The rest are on the temple lands,” Mr.Balakrishnan said.
The party called off its scheduled protest on October 20, demanding free electricity connections, in the wake of the government's announcement to provide free connections to over two lakh people.
Mr.Balakrishnan sought implementation of the government order that promised free power connections to 40,000 people each year.
Among other demands were the speedy implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, increase in the MSP of paddy to Rs.1,500 per quintal and allow for procurement of Kuruvai harvest with a moisture content of up to 20 per cent instead of the current 17 per cent. Naagai Maali, district secretary, CITU; A.V.Murugayyan, district secretary, CPI(M); Marimuthu, MLA and V.Subramanyam, district president, Tamil Nadu Vivasyigal Sangam, spoke.
