Tamil Nadu   

Self-help group members lay siege to office

THENI: Over 30 members of a self-help group from Rajagopalanpatti laid a siege to the office of Assistant Director of Mines at the collectorate on Monday condemning inordinate delay in leasing a stone quarry at Vannathiparaikaradu in the district.

The members stated that they had leased the quarry for Rs.40,000 during last year and each member managed to earn Rs.5,000 a month. The lease period was ended eight months ago. But the Department of Mines has not taken any steps either to extend the lease period or float a new tender for leasing.

“With no other job options in this remote village, we had met the officials and appealed to finalise the matter. But the department did not respond. Now, we are struggling to earn even Rs.1,500 per month.”

“We are ready to pay the lease amount fixed by the government for this year. The officials were reticent. But they had leased another quarry at this village. How can we lead our lives without work, questioned one SHG member.

“Do you want us to rob for survival?” another member asked officials. “Explain to us the reasons behind the inordinate delay,” they demanded. Department officials said the matter would be settled shortly.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

School notes
In full bloom
Motivating Plus Two, SSLC students of fishing community
With fervour
Three killed
Good change in Chengam women’s lifestyle
Water released from Sathanur pick-up anaicut
Improvements
“Desilt drainage channel”
Residents stage protest
Self-help group members lay siege to office
Solatium given
Two found dead
Saeed Akthar Mirza’s novel launched
Rural employment scheme to be extended
Foundation stone for Hogenakkal water project to be laid on February 26
“Foundries must consolidate for better efficiency”
World Peace Day
In unison
Agonising wait for bridge to open
What they say
Woman commits self-immolation
Girl run over by lorry
Computer facility at Golden Rock workshop
Remove unauthorised structures, Collector tells encroachers
Japanese aid for Tiruchi water project
“Create drama artistes’ colony in every district”
Councillor held
Four police personnel suspended
No dearth of welfare schemes in State: Karunanidhi
Date extended
Fishermen strike work
Not express buses
Crime graph up, detection rate low

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu