Wednesday, January 12, 2011

CPI (M) demands White Paper on farmers' suicides in Tamil Nadu

he number of suicides of farmers in Tamil Nadu, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), was 5000 for the period 2005-2010 and the CPI (M) has demanded a White Paper on the deaths, said K Balakrishnan, state president of the Tamilnadu Vivasayigal Sangam and state secretariat member, CPI (M) here Tuesday

After it was widely reported in the media and even after the release of the NCRB report, the State government has not initiated any action said the Communist leader who added that many cases were either not reported to the authorities or were not registered by the police in the state.

Thus, the state government had rendered great injustice to the farming community, the leader pointed out.

Milk procurement price

Mr Balakrishnan also said that the demand of the milk producers was not met fully met by the government. The recent hike of Rs. 1.10 per litre of cow milk and Rs. 2.10 per litre of buffalo milk was only an eye-wash. Considering the multifold increase in prices of cattle feed, the milk price hike was minimal.

The Tamilnadu Vivasayigal Sangam demanded that the price should be hiked to Rs. 5 per litre for cow milk and Rs. 8 per litre for buffalo milk with immediate effect. If not, the Sangam would launch a series of agitations in the state, Mr. Balakrishnan threatened.

Mr. Balakrishnan also demanded the government to increase the paddy procurement price to Rs. 1500 per quintal for first quality paddy and Rs. 1300 for the next lower grade variety.

Though the state government sought Rs. 1832-crore flood relief from the central government for crop loss and house damages across the state due to the recent rains in the state, not even single farmer was given flood relief for crop loss though the government distributed relief only for the house damage, Mr. Balakrishnan alleged.

CPI (M) to start building Dalits' houses

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will enter the house sites allotted to 22 Dalit families in Ramavaram village, Choutealli panchayat in Kaveripatinam Panchayat on January 31 and will start building houses, said K. Balakrishnan, State president of the Tamilnadu Vivasayigal Sangam here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, he said, 22 Dalit families were denied entry into their land allotted by the government three decades ago in Ramavaram village despite having a court order in their favour.

In spite of agitations by the CPI (M) on different occasions, the district administration miserably failed to help the Dalit families to occupy the said land. Hence, the CPI (M) has decided to enter into the land on January 31 and start construction activities for the Dalits.

In case, if any law and order problem arose on that day, the district administration will be responsible for that, he warned.

Oppression against Dalits in the district was reported from many parts.

Wherever the oppression against Dalits was reported and the problems identified by the CPI (M), the party intervened and took the issues to the concerned authorities. No concrete action was initiated by the district administration in many incidents.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)