Farmers’ association announces boycott of DMK in the Assembly polls assailing “anti-farmer” policies

Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Padhukappu Sangam has announced boycott of DMK in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, citing its “anti-farmer” policies.

Sangam founder Easan Murugasamy said that the DMK government had fulfilled only 10 out of over 80 promises made in its 2021 election manifesto. Even the 10 fulfilled promises have little relevance to livelihood and income to farmers, he said.

The Sangam faulted the DMK government for acquiring land by force, contrary to the promise it had made at the Western Region Farmers Conference in Perundurai during 2021 that it will not take even a single square foot of land without their consent.

Mr. Murugasamy questioned the rationale behind the Government’s move to start five SIPCOT industrial parks in the Cauvery Delta region, a protected agricultural zone, through acquiring 60,000 acres of agricultural land. The Government’s plan to earmark 40,000 acres of land purportedly for establishing a Knowledge Corridor and handing it over to corporate companies was deplorable, he said.

Imprisonment of farmers fighting for their rights under Goondas Act, assigning zero value to 13 lakh acres of Inam land through the Hindu Religious Endowments Department and Waqf Board at a time when most of the other States have enforced the Inam abolition law and granted land rights to farmers figures among the “anti-farmer” approach of the State Government, he said.

Broiler farmers who peacefully protested for a wage increase were subjected to false cases and imprisonment. The DMK has remained silent on its 2021 election promise of fixing Minimum Support Price for all produce, leaving the farmers in debt and hardship for the last five years. The loans have not been waived despite many ending their lives in desperation, Mr. Murugasamy pointed out.

The allocations made for farmers under various subsidy schemes in the last five years have not benefitted the farmers. Had the amount spent been provided to the farmers as direct production subsidy of ₹30,000 per acre, the benefit would have reached the farmers.

The Government has failed to lifting the ban on toddy, a nutritious drink, and has, instead, imprisoned coconut farmers highlighting their cause.

The directive of the State Government on containing menace of wild boars has not led to the desired impact, Mr. Murugasamy said, citing the instances of effective steps taken by Kerala and Karnataka Governments.

Paddy and sugarcane farmers also feel deceived due to the failure to comply with the promise on procurement prices. The DMK Government has gone back on its promise that all oil pipelines would be laid along the roads if it comes to power, he said, citing the Bharat Petroleum’s IDPL project for a distance of 70 kilometers through agricultural lands in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts.

The Government has failed to deliver on its promise to replace palm oil with coconut oil, groundnut oil and sesame oil for supply through fair price shops at subsidized prices

Further, lakhs of farmers awaiting three-phase power supply have been left in the lurch, and the 50,000 farmers who had paid huge amounts under Tatkal scheme have also been deceived.

The Tamil Nadu Government’s opposition to Karnataka’s move to construct a dam at Mekedatu was meek, and the State has not taken forward its promise to implement key irrigation projects, Mr. Murugasamy said.