DMK adopting dual stand on cotton export policy: CPI (M)

The CPI (M) has accused the ruling DMK of adopting dual stand on the cotton export policy when weavers in the country were facing an uncertain future because of the Congress-led UPA government's decision to export cotton.

Explaining a resolution adopted at the State Committee meeting of the party held at Tirupur, State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said the decision to export cotton was taken at a meeting attended by a Minister belonging to the DMK.

“But, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi wrote to the Centre, objecting to the export policy, only after public opinion snowballed against the decision. This goes to show the dual stand of the DMK on the issue.” Mr. Ramakrishnan said the textile industry in the country was going through a phase of crisis after a phenomenal increase in the price of cotton and yarn due to the wrong textile policy of the Centre.

“The Centre decided to export cotton without realising the need to fulfil the local demand. At a time when the price of cotton increased by 50 per cent, the export will further affect the weavers,” he said, urging the Centre to give up the decision.

NLC issue

Another resolution called upon the State government to hold talks with contract workers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), who have been abstaining from work since September 19 in support of their demands, including regularisation of services, fixing of salary on a par with regular workers and effecting a salary hike.

Pointing out that the strike had already affected power generation in the State, the resolution stated that the NLC management should give up its adamant attitude and hold talks with the workers. The ruling DMK also should intervene to find an amicable solution based on the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the High Court on regularisation of contract workers.

Problem of broiler farmers

The State Government should invite broiler farmers for talks and help reach an agreement between broiler chicken company owners and the farmers, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA representing Gudiyatham and Broiler Chicken Farmers Association president G. Latha said on Saturday.

Ms. Latha was speaking to reporters after the state committee meeting of Broiler Chicken Farmers Association at Oldpet in Krishnagiri. She said Tamil Nadu topped the country in rearing broiler chicken. As farming became unattractive and unremunerative, farmers were depending on poultry farms. Hence, she demanded, free power scheme should be extended to the broiler farmers in the State.

As many farmers could not pay the loan taken from the broiler companies, she urged the government to waive the loan amount along with interest taken from nationalised and cooperative banks. Ms. Latha said 10 lakh employees were working in about two lakh broiler chicken farms in the State. The government should establish a welfare board to help the broiler farmers. She also asked the government to introduce a new insurance scheme to safeguard the buildings constructed by the farmers in their field.

Effective steps should be taken to supply only ISI marked cattle feed. To safeguard the interest of the local broiler chicken rearers the government should ban export of cattle feed, she said. This will also help reduction of prices in the local market.

Broiler chicken companies should pay Rs. 10 per kg for chicken grown by the poultry farmers.

Ms. Latha said it was also decided to stage agitations in all the district headquarters on October 18 demanding immediate solution to the problems faced by the broiler chicken rearing farmers in the State.