TIRUPPUR: Farmers of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam (TVPS) walked out of a grievance meeting, organised by District Collector Manish Narnaware in Tiruppur, wearing black badges covering their mouths, demanding that the TN government waive crop loans of farmers with less than five acres of land as promised before the Assembly election. Other farmer associations also made similar demands to the district collector. Most farmers who participated in the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the government's stand on the crop loan waiver.
N Ramesh, urban district secretary of TVPS, said, "Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had announced in his election manifesto that all loans of farmers owning less than five acres of land would be waived. Similarly, he had announced that crop loans of farmers owning more than five acres of land would be waived by 50%. However, after coming to power, he has now issued a deceptive announcement, which is deeply disappointing."
"The value of crop loans waived by the state government in 2021 was Rs 12,000 crore. Before that, the value of crop loans waived was Rs 7,000 crore. Currently, only about Rs 2,000 crore of crop loans have been waived. Farmers who voted with faith in Vijay have been deeply disappointed," he added. "The government must revoke the current crop loan waiver scheme, which offers no benefit to farmers in any way."
A Kalimuthu, president of Tamilaga Katchi Sarbatra Vivasayigal Sangam, said, "The district collector must bring our views to the attention of the government." Collector Manish Narnaware replied affirmatively to convey farmers' demands.
Meanwhile, TVPS has planned to organise a protest in Tiruppur on June 1, bringing together all farmer associations and political parties.