Farmers stage agitations across districts, court arrest

They ask for enhanced compensation to drought-affected farmers

A total of 96 members of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association (TNFA) including two women were arrested when they picketed the railway track at Dindigul Railway station here on Tuesday.

Addressing the gathering, TNFA District Secretary R. Sachidanandham said that the State government had sought ₹39,565 crore as drought relief. The Central government should sanction the funds immediately for undertaking relief works. A total of 170 farmers have committed suicide in the State so far, he said.

Expressing grave concern over acute drought, he demanded that the State government should offer ₹10,000 as compensation for affected crops in rainfed lands, ₹75,000 for perennial and cash crops and ₹25,000 for crops in irrigated lands. If the government failed to release relief funds to the affected farmers, farmers would stage protests at village-level throughout the State, he cautioned.

When the police tried to prevent them from entering the Dindigul Railway Station this forenoon, they barged into the station through the exit gate and sat on the track. No train traffic was scheduled at that point of time. Since they refused to leave when the police asked them to, they were arrested and kept in a marriage hall. They were later released in the evening.

Total waiver of crop loans, disbursal of ₹.10,000 as drought relief to farm labourers, distribution of 30 kg free rice to farm labourers’ families, allotment of work to farm labourers for the entire 150 days under MGNREGS, desilting of tanks and other waterbodies on a war footing were their other demands.

Ramanathapuram/Sivaganga

About 300 members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam courted arrest after they staged picketing agitations in the two districts, demanding enhanced compensation to drought-affected farmers and pressing a charter of demands.

In Ramanathapuram district, the protests were held at the district headquarters, Paramakudi, Sikkal, Thiruvadanai and Mudukulathur. Police arrested about 150 members, including district president P. Muthuramu and taluk secretary S. Murugesan when they attempted to block roads.

In Sivaganga district, the protests were held at Thiruppuvanam, Kallal, Devakottai and Kalayarkoil. Those arrested included district president K. Azhagarsamy, district secretary Veerapandi, taluk secretary Jothinathan and State committee member A. R. K. Manickam.

As par of the State-wide agitation, the protesters demanded compensation to all farmers who had insured their crops during 2015-16 and 2016-17, compensation to all affected farmers who had lost their crops following the failure of north east monsoon and waiving farm loans availed by farmers.

They also demanded a solatium of ₹. 10 lakh each to the families of farmers who had committed suicide unable to bear the shock of losing their crops and ₹. 10,000 along with 30 kg of rice each to the families of farm workers, who were rendered jobless. They urged the government to address the drinking water crisis, take measures on war footing and address the fodder scarcity for cattle.

Virudhunagar

A total of 131 cadres of Communist Party of India (Marxist) were arrested when they tried to block train services and road traffic at three places in the district pressing for the Centre to immediately release drought relief funds to the State on Tuesday.

Among the arrested were the party district secretary, Arjunan, and district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam Vijayamurugan. They attempted to stage a rail roko in Virudhunagar and road roko in Kariyapatti and Srivilliputtur.