The Hindu : Farmers to observe hartal in Kuttanad tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Farmers to observe hartal in Kuttanad tomorrow

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MARCH 13. The Kuttanad Paddy Farmers' Protection Action Council will observe a hartal in Kuttanad on March 15 to pressure the State Government to allot adequate compensation to farmers whose paddy crop was damaged because of drought and intrusion of salt water into their fields. The council convener, Fr. Thomas Peelianikkal, and the secretary, Jocichan Thomas, said at a press conference here today, that the farmers would organise a march from the Alappuzha municipal ground to the Alappuzha District Collectorate on March 15. The farmers would carry dried paddy plants in their hands, said Mr. Jocichan. The march would begin at 9.30 a.m., he said. The farmers would later submit a memorandum to the District Collector, said Fr. Peelianikkal. According to Mr Jocichan Thomas, all farmers of Kuttanad would refrain from work on that day.

According to Fr. Peelianikkal, the farmers of Kuttanad would cultivate the next crop only if the Government assured them that effective steps would be taken to prevent the entry of salt water into their fields. Mr. Jocichan demanded that the farmers be immediately given insurance benefits due to them.

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