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New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Plaques marking Independence Day silver jubilee left amid squalor in Tiruchy village
TIRUCHY: Two stones erected on the bunds of the Rama Vaathalai canal near Mukkombu barrage in Tiruchy in commemoration of the silver jubilee of Independence Day now lie amid a heap of garbage and vegetation overgrowth, say the public, urging the authorities concerned for their urgent restoration. One of the stones, which were installed on August 15, 1972, by the Andhanallur union authorities, has the Indian Constitution's Preamble engraved on it. The names of more than 15 individuals from Andhanallur union who were part of the freedom struggle are inscribed on the other side. While the Tricolour flag was once hoisted by the side of the stones and the spot commanded a gathering during events, the commemorative stuctures now lie amid garbage owing to a lack of maintenance, complain the public. The situation only worsened during the Tiruchy-Karur national highway expansion, they say. "Every year, on August 15, the nation organises special events to commemorate the sacrifices made for independence," said Ayilai Siva Suriyan, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam. "However, by neglecting the memorials and the honours given in the past, we are unknowingly disrespecting both our independence and the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for it, bringing deep sorrow," he said. K Thangaraj, a retired Air Force officer from Thirupparaithurai, who has been attempting to reinstate the memorial structures to their past glory, said, "I request the district administration for immediate steps to renovate the memorials and place them in a manner that allows the public to view and pay respects to our nation's independence and the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. This gesture will help the younger generation understand the value of freedom." TNIE's attempts to contact the Andhanallur block development officer (BDO) for comment went in vain.
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers stage protest demanding compensation for land acquired for setting up Bharathiar University in Coimbatore
The protest was led by CPM state secretary P Shanmugam and Coimbatore district secretary C Padmanabhan. Photo by P Sreedhar COIMBATORE: COIMBATORE: Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a sit-in protest in front of the Coimbatore collectorate on Monday, demanding a compensation for agricultural land acquired by the state govt for establishing Bharathiar University. Land was acquired for the purpose from 1978 to 1984. The protest was led by CPM state secretary P Shanmugam and Coimbatore district secretary C Padmanabhan. Several affected farmers participated in the protest. According to the protesters, around 916 acres of land were acquired from nearly 600 farmers at the foothills of Marudhamalai to set up the university. However, the farmers alleged that they were not paid appropriate compensation and filed a petition in court. Subsequently, the court directed the govt to pay Rs 160 crore as compensation, but the order was not implemented. In 2022, the Madras high court enhanced the compensation to Rs 400 crore, including interest. Nearly three years later, the farmers are yet to receive the payment. The day-long protest concluded in the evening after the govt assured the farmers that a high-level meeting would be convened to discuss the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Addressing the gathering before calling off the protest, Shanmugam said minister for public works, highways and minor ports EV Velu contacted him over the phone and conveyed that chief minister M K Stalin had discussed the matter. Velu assured that a high-level meeting involving the minister for higher education and relevant department secretaries would be held soon to arrive at a permanent solution. He said the meeting date would be announced within two days. Based on this assurance, the protesters agreed to withdraw the agitation.
New Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Farmers allege banks denying NOCs for PACS Kisan Credit Card loans
COIMBATORE: Farmers in Coimbatore are claiming that nationalised banks are refusing to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) required by Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) for obtaining Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans. R Periyasamy, a farmer from Theethipalayam, Coimbatore, said, "As per a new circular issued by the cooperative societies on July 17, farmers who have already obtained a KCC loan from any nationalised bank are now required to get an NOC from the concerned branch manager. When I approached my bank in Thondamuthur Taluk, they denied the NOC, stating that I already have an existing KCC loan with them. Many farmers like me, who have KCC loans with nationalised banks, are unable to obtain these NOCs." S Palanisamy, district president of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said, "Cooperative societies offer a maximum of Rs 2 lakh at zero interest for a year, irrespective of the farmer's land area. This means a farmer cannot obtain more than this limit, even if they own over 10 acres. If a farmer cultivates bananas on one acre, for instance, they need a minimum of Rs 1.7 lakh as input cost. The KCC loan provided by PACS is simply not enough to cover expenses for all their land. Therefore, farmers resort to nationalised banks to obtain KCC loans under the interest subvention scheme, which offers an interest rate of 4%." Palanisamy further said,"No bank will offer an NOC until the concerned farmer closes their existing loan. Officials in PACS are merely stating they will offer a loan once they receive the NOC from the banks. This new norm appears to be a tactic by PACS to curtail farmers from obtaining loans from nationalised banks, thereby crippling them economically." He demanded that the cooperative societies revoke the order. When contacted, a senior official from the cooperative societies department said, "These norms have been implemented as per RBI guidelines. The objective is to prevent farmers from obtaining multiple KCC loans from various banks under the interest subvention scheme, as it offers a minimal interest rate. We have, however, received grievances from farmers regarding this issue, and we will bring it to the government's attention."
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Procure mango at Rs 20/kg, ryots urge Tamil Nadu government
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated with the CPI, has urged the state government to immediately intervene and procure mangoes at Rs 20 per kg, including subsidy, to safeguard mango farmers who are facing distress due to falling prices. In a statement, the association's general secretary P S Masilamani said that due to a bumper harvest this year and lack of institutional procurement, mango prices have plummeted below Rs 4 per kg, forcing many farmers to dump their produce on roads or leave the fruits to rot on trees. With mango pulp factories largely run by private players and an oversupply across southern states, farmers are unable to get fair prices. Masilamani pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh government has begun procuring mangoes at Rs 12/kg, with an additional Rs 4/kg subsidy. He called on the state government to follow suit by involving the agricultural marketing department, setting up cold storage units, and eventually establishing state-run mango pulp factories to ensure price stability for growers.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers demand timely completion of desilting work, disbursement of kuruvai special package
With the sluices of Mettur dam set to be opened on June 12, farmers in Tiruchi district have called for the completion of all desilting work taken up on canals and waterbodies in the district and disbursement of kuruvai special package in time. Raising the issue at the monthly farmers grievances meeting, Ayilai Siva Suriyan, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the CPI, said that kuruvai paddy cultivation had declined in recent years in the district and the authorities should give a push to it by expediting desilting operations and distributing the kuruvai special package to encourage farmers to take up cultivation during the season. The government should extend the assistance by way of cash instead of agricultural inputs, he said. A senior official of the Water Resources department said the desilting being carried out by the River Conservation Division was nearing completion. Collector M. Pradeep Kumar, who was in the chair, directed the officials to ensure that the work was completed in time for the release of water for irrigation. Credit disbursal Taking exception to cooperative societies insisting on sureties and margin money for extending credit, P. Ayyakannu, State president of Desiya Thennidiya Nadigal Innaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, urged the district officials to ensure that cooperative societies did not insist on sureties and 10% margin money for sanction of agriculture loans. The Reserve Bank of India recently said that agricultural loans of up to ₹2 lakh should be extended without any collateral, he pointed out. Koundampatti R. Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers' Association, called upon the district authorities to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the 17 irrigation channels and urged the State government to ensure that Karnataka released Tamil Nadu's share of water every month as stipulated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court. N. Veerasekaran, State secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangam, called upon the district authorities to ensure availability of different varieties of seeds as per the requirement of farmers in areas irrigated by canals and wells. He urged the district administration to take steps to ensure that benefit of PM Kisan Scheme reached all eligible beneficiaries. Several eligible farmers had not got the assistance and many who received it had been excluded from the list, he said. Earlier, Mr. Pradeep Kumar, responding to a complaint, instructed officials of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd., to look into complaints of frequent power cuts. 'I am getting more complaints now. Power supply is being suspended even if there is strong breeze; you can do so if there is significant wind speed,' he said citing his own experience at his camp office. Exhibition opened Earlier, Mr. Pradeep Kumar inaugurated an exhibition on agricultural machinery organised by the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the Collectorate. Mr. Veerasekaran, while appreciating the initiative, suggested that it be held on a bigger scale at the agricultural colleges in the district.
