Farmers have urged the district administration to direct the co-operative banks to stay away from initiating distraint proceedings against those who had not re-paid their dues. Participating in a grievances day meeting here on Friday, they pointed out that farmers were humiliated during the course of the proceedings.
S. P. Muthukumaran, District Secretary of the CPI-led Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said farmers who had taken term loans to purchase power-tillers and tractors were the worst hit. A few banks even engaged anti-social elements to humiliate the farmers, he alleged.
K. S. Ramadasu, District Revenue Officer, who presided over the meeting, directed the bank officials not to resort to distraint proceedings unnecessarily. He also warned that strict action would be taken against bank officials found ‘threatening or harassing' the farmers with the help of anti-social elements.
Rama Theerthar, a farmer, wanted to know whether the construction of the barrage across the Cauvery would help divert the surplus waters from the Coleroon to the dry region of Pudukottai district. Mr. Ramadasu replied that he would obtain a report from the officials concerned in this regard shortly.
G. S. Dhanapathy, another farmer, pleaded for relaxing the rules in the sale of trees such as sandalwood and other forest species. Although the Forest Department sanctioned special incentives and encouraged the planting and nursing of these species, a lot of roundabout procedures were followed when it came to cutting and selling the same. He wanted simplification of the rules on cutting and sale of these trees on the lines of the adjoining Kerala .
Ponnusamy, a farmer, wanted action against monkey , who were largely damaging the standing crops. Earlier, Mr. Ramadasu released a booklet on ‘Quality seed production technique' brought out by the Agriculture Technology Management Agency.
