DMK president M. Karunanidhi, PMK leader S. Ramadoss and Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakant on Saturday said farmers in the Cauvery delta region were disappointed over the relief measures announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
In a statement here, Mr. Karunanidhi wondered what would happen to other farmers since the Chief Minister had announced a relief of Rs. 15,000 per acre only to farmers whose yield loss was more than fifty per cent.
He wanted to know the quantum of relief to be released from the State government since the compensation of Rs. 15,000 would not be completely from its exchequer, but from crop insurance and disaster relief funds.
Mr. Karunanidhi said water scarcity had destroyed more than 60 per cent of the crops and the Chief Minister had come forward to release relief for only 75,000 farmers.
“Moreover, the government was also silent on relief to sugarcane farmers and Rs 10,000 relief for agricultural workers. The solatium of Rs three lakh granted to the families farmers who had committed suicide was inadequate. The amount should be Rs. 10 lakh and one member of each family should be given a government job,” he said.
Dr. Ramadoss said at a time the price of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs had increased drastically, the relief of Rs. 15,000 per acre was not adequate and it had cost farmers between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 25,000.
He said the stand that farmers whose yield loss was less than 50 per cent would get insurance money was also unacceptable, as the insurance company would give only Rs. 4,325 per acre. “They also have to wait endlessly to get the money,” he said.
Mr. Vijayakant said the relief amount was grossly inadequate for farmers who had faced a severe crisis.
