Jayalalithaa launches slew of facilities for farmers

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated a farmers’ centre that has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.50 crore at Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district, from the Secretariat here on Saturday. A press release said that the State has been taking constructive measures for the advancement of agricultural department to bring about a second green revolution in India. 

She declared open various other facilities worth Rs.27 crore for the department that also include storage godowns, seed cleaning centres and cold storage besides distributing “Do It Yourself” kits to set up roof top vegetable gardens. These include two storage godowns in Kanyakumari district, a regulated market in Mudhukulathur, storage godowns for seeds and fertilisers in various districts. 

Further, the Chief Minister declared open district horticulture annex buildings and training centres for horticulture department in Erode and Dharmapuri. Following this, she launched the sale of nominally priced “Amma seeds” by presenting it to three farmers. Amma seeds will be sold through Amma service centres. 

With over 80 Indian fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan prisons, Tamil Nadu government has once again sought Central intervention for their release. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said, “It is very unfortunate that these innocent fishermen have continued to be incarcerated throughout the festive season which they were unable to spend with their families. I urge your personal intervention in this matter and request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities in a concrete and decisive manner,” for the immediate release of 84 fishermen including the 29 arrested on December 31, she said. 

The recurrent instances of attacks upon, and “abductions of,” the fishermen in the Palk Bay “continue unabated and are a matter of serious concern affecting” their life and livelihood on a daily basis, she said. 

The Chief Minister also reminded Modi about her government’s plea for a Rs 1520 crore deep-sea fishing package made with him twice. Jayalalithaa had earlier written to Modi voicing concern at recurring instances of such arrests.