A group of farmers affiliated to the Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Aatru Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam organised a protest on Thursday to press for their charter of demands, including waiver of crop loans. The aggrieved farmers staged a novel protest by carrying begging bowls to draw the attention of the government.
Led by the Sangam’s State president, P.Viswanathan, the demonstration was held at Chinthamani near Chathram bus stand.
The protesters wanted the Central and State governments to waive farm loans as agricultural lands had turned fallow due to lack of rain in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
They wanted the government to sanction drought relief of Rs.25, 000 per acre for all crops and demanded that the Centre withdraw the announcement to increase the farm loan interest to 9-11 per cent from the earlier 7 per cent.
Dredging of water bodies and supply channels in the district before the onset of monsoon, opening of veterinary hospitals at Azhagiyamanavalam, S.Ayyampalayam, Perumalpalayam and Narasingapuram, and implementation of open-type auction instead of indirect auction of onions at Thuraiyur regulated market were among their other demands.
