The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : How clueless officials face determined farmers

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Wednesday, Aug 24, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Others

How clueless officials face determined farmers

L. RenganathanFrom L. Renganathan in Karur

KARUR: There are situations when officials find themselves in a pressure cooker atmosphere while facing a group of determined and knowledgeable people. In such situations, the officials habitually tend to lose sight of their position, which is to serve their interlocutors, and try to wriggle out of the situation by dismissive means.

The farmers grievances day meeting conducted at Kulithalai in Karur on Tuesday found the officials concerned trying to dodge a determined lot of farmers.

One farmer in his rustic-yet-temperate language detailed the plight of the farmers whose lives were affected by pollution in the Somur-Nerur region in Karur.

When officials offered to arrange a trip for the farmers to see what's the latest in effluent treatment, the farmer simply replied that the proof he needs would be in his fields and that he need not stir out in search of the truth elsewhere.

On another occasion, an official was at his wits' end to give a proper reply to a farmer who had been seeking a bridge across a storm water channel on Karur - Esanatham Road for the past three years. The farmer claimed that the officials had been giving him a stock reply over the years.

On another occasion, an official tried to laugh away a demand to increase the frequency of bus services to Nachalur area.

If this is one case, then there are those `entrenched' farmers who dutifully try to pacify their brethren who seek to point out anomalies in the acts of omission and commission of the officials.

These `entrenched' farmers must realise that the farmers grievances day meeting is a forum for all farmers to air their grievances and get them redressed. Soft-pedalling farmers should try to highlight the plight of their community rather than hold a candle for the officialdom.

Also, it is rather surprising that it is the Revenue Department and not the Agriculture Department that organises the grievances day meeting. Last time, the Project Officer of the District Rural Development Agency read out the agenda.

It would be better for the farmers and the district administration to entrust the job of conducting the grievances day meeting with the department directly related to the issue.

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