Chennai, Aug 22:
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately distribute the promised special package for kuruvai farmers, alleging that cultivators have been waiting for the assistance for 70 days.
In a statement, Anbumani said the government had issued an order on June 12 announcing assistance of Rs 4,000 per acre for kuruvai farmers across Tamil Nadu, including those in the Cauvery Delta districts. The package was to be provided through fertilisers, seeds and direct financial assistance.
However, the assistance has still not reached farmers, he alleged.
Anbumani said the delay was particularly concerning because the package was intended to support farmers during transplantation and the period immediately following it.
“Assistance to farmers must be provided with the same urgency as oxygen is administered to a patient in an emergency ward,” he said, urging the government to act without further delay.
According to Anbumani, transplantation has already been completed in many areas, while the harvesting season is expected to begin shortly. As a result, the continued delay in releasing the package has defeated much of its intended purpose, he argued.
The PMK leader also pointed to the approaching procurement season.
Kuruvai procurement is scheduled to begin on September 1, leaving the government only around 10 days to ensure that the promised assistance reaches eligible farmers, he said.
Anbumani argued that the government must act before harvesting and procurement begin rather than allowing farmers to wait until the season is effectively over.
The PMK president also recalled that his party had repeatedly urged the government to announce assistance for kuruvai farmers, particularly in view of the fact that the Mettur Dam was not opened for irrigation this year.
Following such demands, the government issued the order announcing the special package on June 12, he said.
However, despite the announcement, the actual distribution of the assistance has not taken place, according to Anbumani.
He urged the State government to immediately implement the package and ensure that the promised Rs 4,000-per-acre assistance reaches farmers before the procurement season begins.
The issue is particularly significant for farmers in the Cauvery Delta, where timely access to inputs and financial support is crucial for sustaining the kuruvai crop and protecting farm incomes.