Udayanidhi Stalin orders resumption of free buses to Theni ‘uzhavar sandhai' after farmers' plea

The Hindu

16-06-2025

Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin directed authorities to resume free transport facility for the farmers to bring their produce from their farms to the uzhavar sandhai in Theni on Monday.
Submitting a petition, the farmers from Periyakulam region said that they raised vegetables, fruits and other horticultural goods and brought them to the sandhai in Theni. The government had suspended the free bus facility after the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, the farmers transported their produce through their own personal vehicles or carried them in goods vehicle paying from their pocket. Hence, they urged the Deputy CM to consider their difficulties and redress them.
The Deputy CM, who was here to take stock of the development works under way at the Collectorate, held discussions in the presence of Minister I Periasamy, senior IAS officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Yadav, Additional Secretary R.V. Shajeevana, Collector Ranjith Singh and other officials.
After consultations, he announced that the district administration would resume the free transport facility for the farmers.
In the first phase, it was proposed to ply the buses from Periyakulam Panchayat Union limits covering Jayamangalam to Pinnathevanpatti, Chokkathevanpatti and Annanchi to Theni from today (June 16) onwards. From tomorrow (June 17), it was proposed to ply buses to carry the farm goods from Mayiladumparai panchayat union covering Kadamalaigundu to Nagalapuram.
In an upbeat mood, the farmers thanked Mr Udayanidhi with folded hands. Expressing relief, a farmer Jafar Sadiq said that the government's swift action today would help many marginal farmers to save their hard earned money.
Echoing similar views, Veeralakshmi another farmer said that the buses were plying pre-COVID19 and they were not able to get it resumed since then.
'I am very happy that the Deputy CM has given us such a big relief instantly,' she added.
The Deputy CM gave away welfare assistance to 851 beneficiaries worth ₹13.49 crore in the presence of MP Thanga Tamil Selvan, MLAs Cumbum N Ramakrishnan, K.S. Saravana Kumar, A. Maharajan and other rural local body members.
Earlier, while addressing the senior officials from various departments at the Theni Collectorate, Mr. Udayanidhi said that in the last four years, under the leadership of CM M.K. Stalin, they had fulfilled numerous promises made to the people.
'We will continue to do that in the next 10 months or so, after which the elections are due to the State,' he said and thanked the officials for playing the role of catalyst between the government and the people.
On the occasion, the grievances of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community from Periyakulam block were redressed and the basic needs were fulfilled. The Deputy CM gave away free pattas and kits to the beneficiaries.