The members of the Tamil Nadu Maanila Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam and Akila India Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam (BKMU) staged demonstration in Pudukottai and nine centres in the district on Tuesday to press their charter of demands.
They demanded the government to declare the State as drought hit and launch drought relief measures on a war footing. They pleaded for increasing the working days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from 100 to 150 days and provide salary to farm workers.
K. Sundararajan, district secretary of the BKMU, and M. Ramamurthy, district committee member of the Tamil Nadu Maanila Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam, led the agitation held in front of the new bus stand in the town. Similar agitations were held in Annavasal; Aranthangi; Karambakudi; Gandarvakottai; Viralimalai; Avudaiyarkoil; Kunnandarkoil; Tiruvarangulam; and Ponnamaravathi.
THANJAVUR: Cadres of Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhilalargal Sangam and All India Vivasaya Thozhilalargal Sangam staged demonstrations at 12 places in the district on Tuesday. They said that drinking water problem existed in many places and vehicles should be used to provide water. This year Kuruvai may not be taken up in canal irrigated areas in Cauvery delta districts as the storage is poor in Mettur dam.
Wherever there was no work, Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employement Guarantee Scheme (C) should be implemented for 150 days till the monsoon picked up. Beneficiaries of the scheme should be paid Rs 167 a day. Demonstrations were held at Papanasam, Sethubavachathiram, Kumbakonam, Ammapettai, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thirubhuvanam, Thiruppanandal, Orathanadu, Madukkur, Thiruvonam, Pattukottai, and Peravurani.
C. Pakkirisamy, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhilalargal Sangam, and K. Pakkirisamy, district secretary of All India Vivasaya Thozhilalargal Sangam, led the agiitation in Thanjavur.
G. Neelamegam, district secretary of CPI(M), participated in the agitation.
NAGAPATTINAM: Left affiliated farmers organisation staged demonstrations in taluks on Tuesday demanding drought relief.
The Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and Tamizhaga Vivasaya Thozhilalargal Sangam joined hands to put forth a charter of demands here. Stating that the slow down in agricultural activity has cut down wage avenues for wage labourers, labour days should be increased, the left affiliated farmers associations have demanded. Vivasayigal sangams have demanded the constitution of the Cauvery River Water Management Board, as mandated by the Cauvery Award. The protesters called for implementation of recommendations of Kolappan Committee.
Other demands included removal of delays in disbursal of old age pension, widow pension, and pension for differently-abled; issue of family cards for eligible beneficiaries; ensure uninterrupted power supply and drinking water supply through tankers.
