- विज्ञापन -
Chennai: Members of the Tamil Nadu River and Tank Irrigation Farmers Association held a protest near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, Chennai, on Thursday, demanding immediate government action on crop damage relief, agricultural budget implementation, and policy reforms.
The protesting farmers and their families raised slogans urging Chief Minister MK Stalin to provide financial aid for crops like maize, bananas, and small onions that were heavily damaged by recent heavy rains. They also called for the swift execution of schemes announced in the agricultural budget, loan waivers for distressed farmers, and the withdrawal of plans to install digital electricity meters.
Vishwanathan, president of the Tamil Nadu River and Tank Irrigation Farmers Association, explained that the protest was intensified to draw attention to their demands, especially since the government had announced an agricultural budget but not allocated funds for its schemes. He urged the government to ensure the release of these funds by the end of June.
The farmers expressed strong opposition to the state’s plan to install smart meters, fearing it could jeopardize the existing free electricity scheme for agriculture. Vishwanathan warned that Tamil Nadu should not adopt the union government’s new electricity law or implement smart meters.
A major concern was also crop compensation for the damage caused by recent rains. The farmers demanded that the government coordinate with insurance agencies to ensure farmers receive adequate compensation for their affected crops, including corn, bananas, and small onions.
Additionally, they reiterated their long-standing demand for a guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) and urged the union government to announce a fixed minimum wage for crops, which has yet to be implemented.
