Farmers walk out of grievance meet, want TN to be declared drought-hit

Many farmers were holding the wilted crops from their fields and some of them held earthen pots and placards demanding declaration of the Cauvery delta districts as drought-affected. And a group of farmers led by Sundara Vimalnathan demanded declaration of entire state as drought affected and disbursement of Rs. 31,500 per acre as compensation for failed crop besides Rs. 6,000 per month for the families of farmers and farm workers. While another group of farmers including A K R Ravichandran, Ambalapattu Thangavel, Tholagiripatti Govindaraj held earthen pots in their hands as if they were begging due to cash crunch. They said the farmers did not have cash in hand for buying fertilizers, pesticides or to pay the wages for their workers. They raised slogans against the Union Government for the failure to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) due to which the crops started wilting. 

A group of farmers led by Kakkarai R Sukumaran, the District President of Tamilaga Vivasayigal sangam heaped the wilted crops before the meeting hall and paid tributes to farmers who died due to crop failure. They demanded Rs. 25 lakh as compensation to the families of farmers who died due to crop failure. They also wanted Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation and waiver of crop loans. P Govindaraj of Tholagiripatti wanted the last date for paying crop insurance premium to be extended. Replying to this A Annadurai, District collector said the last date for paying insurance premium has been extended upto December 5.