Should the TN Government Act Now to Aid Flood-Affected Farmers?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Immediate relief for flood-hit farmers is crucial.
- Over 8,000 metric tonnes of paddy have been lost.
- Leaders demand Rs 50,000 compensation per acre.
- Allegations of corruption at procurement centers.
- Urgent action needed to prevent a potential agrarian crisis.
Chennai, Oct 23 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran and NTK chief coordinator Seeman have called on the state administration to promptly deliver compensation and support to farmers in the Cauvery delta region whose paddy fields have been devastated by relentless rains.
The leaders criticized the ruling DMK for its negligence and corruption, claiming that its inaction has led to significant destruction of the Kuruvai harvest.
In a statement released on Thursday, Nagenthran expressed that it was “heart-wrenching” that over 8,000 metric tonnes of harvested Kuruvai paddy had been spoiled due to the recent downpours affecting the delta districts.
He strongly condemned the DMK government for failing to procure the harvested crop even after a ten-day delay, wasting the farmers’ months of hard work. “The government’s indifference has driven delta farmers into despair. The DMK must urgently expedite paddy procurement to avert further losses. More than one lakh acres of paddy ready for harvest are submerged, and farmers are distraught,” Nagenthran stated.
He insisted that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who refers to himself as a “resident of the delta,” must take immediate action by initiating emergency procurement measures and compensating affected farmers with Rs 50,000 per acre.
“Empty slogans will not assist the farmers -- the Chief Minister must respond with urgency,” he emphasized.
Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) coordinator Seeman also released a harsh statement against the state government, accusing it of “criminal negligence” towards farmers’ distress.
“The DMK government’s unwillingness to procure locally grown paddy while simultaneously denying rice imports from Andhra Pradesh highlights the hypocrisy of the supposed Dravidian model,” he remarked.
Seeman pointed out that the farmers of Tamil Nadu, who labor tirelessly under challenging conditions, have long faced difficulties in receiving fair prices for their harvest.
He claimed that the government had set procurement prices significantly lower than production costs, further jeopardizing farmers’ livelihoods.
“Corruption is rampant at the Direct Procurement Centres, where farmers are being illegally charged Rs 40 per bundle of paddy. Why hasn’t the government acted to stop this blatant theft?” Seeman inquired.
He urged the DMK to immediately rectify irregularities at procurement centers, ensure transparent payments, and provide fair compensation to Samba farmers whose crops have perished in the floods.
Both Nagenthran and Seeman cautioned that ongoing government apathy could lead to a severe agrarian crisis in Tamil Nadu’s fertile delta region unless urgent corrective actions are taken.