Expressing protest against non-inclusion of Pudukottai district during the recent survey by a team of ministers in samba crop-affected districts, farmers staged a walk-out from farmers’ grievances day meeting here on Thursday.
As soon as C. Manoharan, Collector, came to the meeting hall and started explaining the recommendation by the district administration for certain relief package for the drought-prone zones, a group of farmers were up on their feet, lodging their protest and anguish.
They said that although a team of Ministers led by O. Pannerselvam, Minister for Finance, visited various districts in the central region, Pudukottai district had not been included.
They explained that Pudukottai farmes were equally hard hit.
They explained that the samba farmers were affected in various stages: while one category of farmers were affected in the initial stage of transplanting the seedlings, another batch suffered a serious loss due to withering away of the crop.
Further, a number of farmers who had raised the paddy for their livelihood, were at a loss and would have to starve all through the next year.
They said that the farmers could not take up any agricultural activity, as the withered away crop was yet to be cleared. “The hard soil makes the task of clearing the fields harder,” they said.
They raised slogans protesting against non-inclusion of the district in the drought-prone zones.
They also pleaded for adequate compensation to be announced for the farmers.
Madhavan, district president of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI, M. Sebastian, district president of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI (M), A. Ramasamy representing Kallanai Kalvai Ayacutdars Welfare association, G.S. Dhanapathy, district chairman of Farmers Forum of India, Athmanathan, a progressive farmer from Avudaiyarkovil and Manivelu, district secretary of the Cane Growers Welfare Association were among those who participated.
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