Farmers of Pennadam and Vriddhachalam on Wednesday staged a novel protest at Paalakarai in the district, holding dead rats and snakes in their mouths, demanding immediate settlement of arrears to those who had supplied sugarcane to two mills in the region.
The farmers’ protest has been on for three days now.
Leading the demonstration, farmers’ leader and president of Desiya Thenindiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam P. Ayyakannu said that the private sugar mills had allegedly forged documents and taken loans in the name of farmers, without their knowledge.
The banks had now sent notices to the farmers for loan default and the officials also remained silent without taking any action against the sugar factories.
The protest will continue until justice is ensured to the farmers, he said.
The protesters claimed that Thiru Arooran Sugar in Chittoor and Ambika Sugar Mills at Pennadam were yet to settle the dues to thousands of cane growers who had supplied sugarcane to the mills over the last three years.
Loans on farmers’ names
The Arooran Sugar mills alone was yet to settle dues to the tune of ₹40 crore to farmers. It had failed to even disburse the ₹200-incentive, announced by the Government for one tonne of sugarcane.
On the contrary the mill had forged documents and obtained loans in the name of farmers, they said.
