The Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will organise agitations throughout the State on December 20 demanding hike in compensation for losses suffered due to crop and property damage during the rain.
The State government should sanction a compensation of Rs.15, 000 per acre for crop damage, Rs.10,000 for damage of houses and Rs.50 for each damaged banana tree .
A resolution to this effect was adopted at the state council meeting held here on Tuesday. Briefing reporters on the resolutions adopted , K.Balakrishnan, president of the sangam said that government should convene an all party meeting and invite representatives of farmers associations to ascertain the losses suffered due to rain in the state. Instead, it has deployed officials for assessing the damage. But officials have not made a proper assessment, he said . Mr.Balakrishnan appealed to the State to approach the Central government to get its share of grant to provide relief to the affected people.
The sangam will also organise another agitation on December 22 in front of Fort St. George in support of sugarcane farmers who demanded a price of Rs.3000 for each tonne of sugarcane . Government should also take steps to protect sugar factories under public sector and co-operative sector.
P.Shanmugham, secretary of the sangam said that a compensation of Rs.2,000 should be paid for each goat killed in the rain and Rs.10,000 for each cow or bullock . Other than paddy, onion in Perambalur district and chillies in Ramanathapuram district, have suffered extensive damage and farmers should be compensated for these losses too. Compensation should also be paid to agriculture labourers who are left without jobs .
Venkatesh Athreya, All India Kisan Council member; Mohammed Ali, vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam participated in the meeting.
