Farmers affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam courted arrest for staging blockade across the district on Tuesday.
Protesters of the CPM-affiliated farmers’ association demanded declaration of delta districts, particularly tail-end areas, as drought-hit and demanded adequate compensation.
Speaking to The Hindu , V.Marimuthu, ex-MLA, who led the protest organised in front of the Nagapattinam block development office, said the government should compensate farmers and farm-wage labourers for the loss incurred due to water scarcity and crop failure.
According to Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, farmers should be given Rs.10,000 per acre and farm wage labourers Rs.3,000 per month compensation during the distress period. The protesters also demanded that wage days under MNREGS be increased from 100 to 150 days.
Alleging that some panchayats have not disbursed wages under the job scheme, farmers demanded that wage be given to workers on a weekly basis.
The demonstrators also demanded immediate dredging of water bodies.
Old age pension too had not reached several eligible beneficiaries, Mr.Marimuthu said.
Due to lack of work, farm labourers have to travel to far off places in search of jobs. Hence, additional buses must be operated during mornings and evenings to help these labourers find jobs, Mr.Marimuthu said. Drinking water scarcity was another problem which haunts villages and authorities must take steps to address the issue immediately, he said. According to Giridharan, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, though the government declared Nagapattinam as drought-hit during 2012-13, no relief had been received yet.
The protests in Keezhvelur were led by district secretary of CPI (M) A.V.Murugayyan, in Keezhayur by MLA Nagai Maali, and in Vedaranyam by Kovai Subramaniam. Protest blockades were held in all the 10 blocks except Kollidam.
Arrests were made in Nagapattinam, where of the 300 protesters, 200 were women. Similarly, over 300 people were arrested in Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, and Kuthalam. In other places, protesters dispersed after a demonstration.
