Farmers walk out of Thanjavur Collector’s grievance meet

As soon as the meeting chaired by Collector A Annadurai commenced, a group led by R Sukumaran, the State Vice-president of Tamil Nadu Farmers joint movement, raised the question of non-payment of crop insurance claims for 2016-17. The members also pointed out the water for Kuruvai paddy was not available for the sixth consecutive year and wanted the Union Government to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) immediately.

Following them, another group led by V Veerasenan from Ponnavarayankottai walked out of the meeting protesting non-availability of water for Kuruvai. They said as the paddy seed they had bought for the season had gone waste, they wanted to throw it in the collectorate premises. They threw the paddy seeds on the ground in protest. 

Another group led by S Vimanathan, the Secretary of Thanjavur District Cauvery Farmers protection association, staged a walkout in solidarity with the farmers led by Ayyakannu who were protesting in New Delhi and also against the Union Government which refuses to implement the recommendations of National Commission of Farmers and waive the farm loans. They also demanded that the state Government withdraw its appeal against the High Court order which directed the state Government to waive the loans of the farmers who have holdings of more than 5 acres.