Compensate farmers for crop losses: Political parties

Chennai: Political parties in the state demanded on Sunday that the state government provide compensation to the families of farmers who had either committed suicide or died of cardiac arrest following the shock of yet another crop loss.

Three farmers have died in the recent days in Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts. A farmer in Tiruvarur committed suicide on Thursday following crop failure while two farmers in Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts died of cardiac arrest after inspecting the crop failure.

Leader of Opposition and DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin sought compensation of Rs 25 lakh each for the deceased farmer's family. “The government failed to release water for delta farmers at the right time and many farmers suffered crop loss due to this,” Stalin said in a statement. He wanted the government to sanction Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation to farmers.

PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan and CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan also sought compensation for the farmers. PMK and CPI (M) demanded a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for the crop loss.