Protesters seek more relief for Gaja-hit farmers

The demands included declaration of Cyclone Gaja as national calamity, release of Rs 15,000 by the Union government as demanded by the state government, payment of full compensation for the houses damaged in Cyclone Gaja, implementation of the MGNREGA in full measure to engage the people in affected villages, implementing the scheme of constructing concrete houses by issuing land title to the landless, disbursement of relief to all farmers irrespective of their land holdings, enhancement of relief for paddy to Rs 25,000 per acre, Rs 20,000 per coconut tree, Rs 1 lakh per acre for banana and waiver of crop loans of farmers. They also demanded new boats for the fishermen who lost their boats in the cyclone.

In Thanjavur, the hunger strike was organised in front of the Panagal buildings. R Tirugnanam, the state committee member, commenced the fast. D Chandrasekaran, Tiruvarur DMK MLA, addressed the protesters.  The protests were held in as many as 34 places across Thanjavur, including Kumbakonam, Pattukkottai, Tiruvaiyaru, Peravurani, Sethubavachathiram.

DMK MLAs, Sakkottai G Anbalagan (Kumbakonam), Govi Chezhian (Tiruvidaimarudur), were among those who addressed the gathering. V Duraimanickam, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association addressed the fast at Pappanadu and MA Bharthi, CPI district secretary at Tiruppanandal.

Meanwhile in Tiruvarur, the fast was organised at 164 places including Tiruvarur, Mannargudi, Tiruthuraipoondi, Nannilam. In Tiruvarur R Mutharasan, the CPI state secretary addressed the participants.