Cadre of the Communist Party of India (CPI) staged demonstrations at Thanjavur and Tiruvarur on Monday demanding issue of house site pattas to all of those who live on temple, church, mosque lands and other trust lands to entitle them for availing of benefits under the Kalaignar's concrete housing scheme.
While D.Pandian, state secretary of CPI, led the agitation at Tiruvarur while A. M. Gopu, National Council member of CPI led the agitation at Thanjavur.
Mr.Pandian demanded that the area of the houses under Kalaignar housing scheme should be increased. At present the area for each house is 200 sq ft. He also demanded that the amount for each house should be increased from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. three lakh. He pointed out that under Samathuvapuram scheme, the government is spending Rs. 2.30 lakh for each house. The scheme should be extended to all and poor people who don't have a house site patta should be given pattas in order to be included under the scheme. Thirugnanam, district secretary of CPI; C.Chandraskumar, state vice-president of AITUC participated in the agitation here .
Nagapattinam
The All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), affiliated to the Communist Party of India (CPI), staged a demonstration, here on Monday, seeking intervention of the government in extending the benefits of the Kalaignar's Housing Scheme.
Spearheading the demonstration, Nagendra Nath Oza, General Secretary, Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (BKMU), said holding ownership of pattas as a criterion for conversion of kuccha houses into concrete ones under the scheme, excluded a majority of the landless residing on government porampokks.
While the government provided tax concessions and exemptions for setting up Special Economic Zones and Industries and made land grants for the same, grant of pattas for those residing on government porampokks should also be made.
The housing provision of 200 sq.ft for farmers and the masses under the scheme does not commensurate with the requirements for a decent living. The fund allocation of Rs.75,000 under the scheme would also not help meet the costs of construction. Drawing a parallel with the Puducherry government's scheme of providing for Rs.2 lakh for house construction along with a provision for Rs.1 lakh as loan component, Mr. Oza said the fund allocation ought to be hiked. The spirit of land reforms has been violated for industrial purposes, Mr.Oza alleged.
Pudukottai
Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and the CPI staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here on Monday. S. P.Muthukumaran, district secretary of the party and S. Rajasekaran, MLA participated.
Karur
Cadre of CPI staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate demanding among other things free house site pattas for the poor and the vulnerable sections of society. District secretary of the party K.K.Periyasamy led the demonstration in which a large number of men and women participated.
