Chennai: In Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district, the tail-end of the state's delta region, New Year's Day was not a new beginning but the end for 47-year-old farmer Panneerselvam. He had taken two acres on lease and had a debt of Rs 35,000. The crop dried up and so did his hope. He hung himself to death.
The Tamil Nadu government has been served a notice by the National Human Rights Commission after reports that 106 farmers have died in the last one month due to distress caused by drought. Opposition leader MK Stalin, who has just taken over as DMK Working President, has demanded that the state be declared drought-hit.
It has been a triple whammy for farmers in the state: The northeast monsoon was short by 62 per cent, the ongoing Cauvery River dispute stretched on and the centre's move to scrap Rs 500 and 1,000 notes sent them scrambling for seeds and other materials.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam has also called it a drought-like situation and has promised compensation of up to Rs 25,000 after ministers and officials complete assess damage on the 13 lakh acres that was cultivated before the harvest festival of Pongal. The crisis has added bolstered the opposition. Many say this is the first major challenge for the Pannerselvam government facing its own intra-party crisis of sorts following Chief Minister and AIADMK party chief Jayalalithaa's death.
"It is the duty of the Tamil Nadu government, which follows Amma (as late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was called by party cadres) to protect farmers in these despairing circumstances," he said, adding government would fulfil its duty.
The Tamil Nadu government has been served a notice by the National Human Rights Commission after reports that 106 farmers have died in the last one month due to distress caused by drought. Opposition leader MK Stalin, who has just taken over as DMK Working President, has demanded that the state be declared drought-hit.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam has also called it a drought-like situation and has promised compensation of up to Rs 25,000 after ministers and officials complete assess damage on the 13 lakh acres that was cultivated before the harvest festival of Pongal. The crisis has added bolstered the opposition. Many say this is the first major challenge for the Pannerselvam government facing its own intra-party crisis of sorts following Chief Minister and AIADMK party chief Jayalalithaa's death.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Rs 700 Crore, 18,000 Women Workers: Foxconn's Tamil Nadu Housing Unit 4-Year-Old Boy, Bitten By Stray Dog, Dies Of Rabies In Tamil Nadu: Report Upset Over Performance In Football Game, Tamil Nadu Teacher Slaps, Kicks Students "Trusted Mamata Banerjee But...": Father Of Murdered Doctor To NDTV UK Girl Discovers Dinosaur Footprints On Beach Walk: "Cool And Exciting" "3 Options": Champai Soren's Post On His Resignation And After India Rankings 2024: Explore Top 10 Pharmacy Colleges Japanese Man Who Lost His Wife In 2011 Tsunami Still Searches For Her UP School Teacher Suspended For Pulling Student's Hair, Kicking Her Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.