Sugarcane growers in Tamil Nadu might have to commit suicide like Vidharba farmers if private sugar mills continued to delay payment of dues, farmers said at the grievances day meet here on Friday.
Upset at the continued delay in clearing of dues by sugar mills, farmers demanded that the State government take action to recover the arrears due to farmers besides calling for grant of Rs. 10 lakh as solatium to the distraught sugarcane grower M. Sambandam of Andakkudi village in Thanjavur district who committed suicide unable to face the mounting debt. They wanted the private mill to contribute an equal amount to the bereaved family of the farmer as compensation.
As soon as the meeting began, cane growers, including Thanjavur District Cauvery Farmers' Protection Association secretary Swamimalai S. Vimalanathan, and CPI(M) district secretary Samy Natarajan raised the issue, garlanded the portrait of Sambandam and lit candles to pay homage to him, all in the presence of officials.
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Mr. Swaminathan said that while the public sector sugar mills had honoured their commitment to farmers, the 24 private sugar mills had not paid their dues for the cane supplied last season.
The State government must grant a solatium of Rs. 10 lakh to Sambandam’s family while the private sugar mill concerned must be made to pay an equal amount as compensation to the family.
State government urged to make private sugar mills pay dues for cane supplied last season
Government urged to pay Rs. 10 lakh solatium to family of Sambandan who ended his life