A rally was taken out by members of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam on Monday pressing a charter of demands, including writing off all the loans granted to farmers, declaring the entire State drought-hit, and doubling the compensation announced for the farming community. State president of the association S.A.Chinnasamy led the march of the farmers from Tiruchi, Karur, Perambalur, and Ariyalur districts from Cantonment to the collectorate where a memorandum was presented to the Collector.
The association demanded immediate gazetting of the Final Award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and criticised the Central government for delaying the gazetting of the award pronounced in 2007. Besides, it sought condign punishment to Karnataka government for failing to comply with the directions of the tribunal and the Supreme Court.
It appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to convene a meeting of all the parties and all the farmer leaders without delay to press the Central government for ensuring justice to Tamil Nadu and to organise a blockade of Parliament, if need be.
It demanded construction of a memorial for their late leader Narayanasamy and solatium for the families of those who died in police firing in the agitation against the hike in electricity tariff. Similarly, it urged the State government to grant a solatium of Rs.10 lakh each to the families of farmers who have committed suicide in view of the crop failure. All the farmers above 58 years of age should be granted a pension of Rs.5,000 a month.
It sought nationalisation of all the rivers to protect the integrity of the country, save agriculture, and do away with food and water scarcity. The association condemned the sale of sand to other States and wanted the State government to protect the water sources in Tamil Nadu.
