The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Walkout over paddy crop loss in Kuttanad

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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Walkout over paddy crop loss in Kuttanad

Special Correspondent

CPI(M) resistance to mechanised harvesting alleged

Photo: C. Ratheesh kumar

Protest action: Opposition members walked out of the Assembly on Monday after the Speaker denied grant of leave for an adjournment motion on the loss to paddy cultivation in Kuttanad. Four members later staged a satyagraha in the foyer of the Assembly till the end of the sitting. –

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Monday, an Opposition walkout and a sit-in by four Opposition MLAs over the massive crop loss suffered by farmers in Kuttanad owing to the alleged resistance of the Communist Party of India(Marxist) (CPI(M) to mechanised harvesting in the paddy polders.

The Opposition alleged that resistance from the CPI(M) and its affiliate Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU) to use of harvesting equipment had delayed harvesting by a fortnight resulting in heavy crop loss in summer rain.

Stages sit-in

The exchanges between the government and the Opposition over an adjournment motion sought to be moved by the latter was marked by repeated interruptions with the rival sides trying to silence each other. Following the walkout, Opposition members Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, M. Murali (Congress), Joseph M. Puthussery (KC(M) and M. Ummer (IUML) staged a sit-in the foyer of the Assembly for the duration of the sitting as a mark of protest against the government’s refusal to discuss the issue in the House.

Charges refuted

Strongly refuting the Opposition charge, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said mechanised harvesting was quite common in most parts of Kuttanad and that only in areas which had a high density of agricultural labourers, there was the practice of farm hands being used for the purpose.

This was based on a decision by the Industrial Relations Committee (IRC) in Kuttanad to which the INTUC-led farmers’ union was also a party. He conceded that the farmers had suffered heavy crop damage owing to the heavy summer showers and said they would be suitably compensated.

‘Dispute resolved’

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Rathnakaran said that though there was some dispute about the use of harvesting machines, these had been resolved amicably. The only obstacle to harvesting machinery was the high water level in the paddy polders. The government had issued instructions to Revenue and Agriculture officials to raise the Thanneermukkom barrage to let off the flood waters.

He would hold a meeting with the representatives of farmers and the local officials later in the day to find ways to mitigate the difficulties being experienced by the farmers, Mr. Rathnakaran said.

Seeking leave for the motion, B. Babu Prasad (Congress) said the crop loss was due mainly to the KSKTU leadership’s selective refusal to permit use of harvesting machinery by farmers. Although the union had promised to provide sufficient number of farm hands, it did not honour its word.

If the harvesting could be carried out 10 days earlier, it would have resulted in saving of around 5 lakh quintals of paddy, he claimed.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the harvesting should have taken place at least 20 days ago. This could not be done only owing to the resistance from the KSKTU. The situation was quite grim in Kuttanad where the farmers were in deep misery, he said.

K.M. Mani, KC(M) leader, said Opposition leaders would visit Kuttanad for an on-the-spot study of the situation there.

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