Plea to hike PM Kisan Fund to Rs 10,000

Tamil Nadu Small and Medium Farmers Association President K.R. Sudantirarasu demanded to increase the annual payment of Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Fund scheme. Farmers grievances redressal meeting was held at the Erode district level under the chairmanship of District Collector S. Kandasamy at the Collector’s office. (Photo: Collector inspecting an expo of sericulture department.)
Ryots association leaders Sudantirarasu, Periyasamy, Thulasimani and others spoke:
Water should be opened for the second season of the Keezhbhavani canal by January 7 and uninterrupted water should be released till April 30. Farmers should be prepared for cultivation work by issuing a notification in December. Paddy harvesting will begin in the second week of December in the Keezhbhavani irrigation system. 39 direct paddy procurement centers should be opened like last year.
The MSP for sugarcane should be increased to Rs. 5,000 per ton. Crop loans should be provided to farmers in cooperatives along with jewelry loans.
Officials’ response:
It will be recommended to the government to open water in Keezhbhavani dam in the first week of January. The sluices and valves in the Kalingarayan canal will be repaired after receiving appropriate funds.
Once the paddy harvest begins in Keezhbhavani area the paddy procurement centres will be opened. A separate building is being constructed for the paddy procurement centre in Kulur and Anjur at a cost of Rs. 35 lakh each. We have sent the draft plan to the government to construct a building in Vadugapatti.
We have provided crop loans of Rs. 1,315 crore till March 31 and an additional Rs. 500 crore in the last 7 months. We have provided more than Rs. 500 crore in jewelry loans. 58,000 more people have received jewelry loans than last year.
The farmers received Rs. 63 crores are unpaid. If the farmers repay, they can give it to other farmers and jewellers.
Collector: All departmental officers should take immediate action on the petitions received in the farmers’ grievance redressal meeting and report in the next meeting.
The action taken on the petitions will be reviewed once in 15 days.