Tamil Nadu Farmers Demand Full Loan Waiver and Address Paddy Procurement Issues
Farmers' representatives in Tamil Nadu have renewed demands for a full waiver of cooperative farm loans for small and marginal farmers and a 50% waiver for larger farmers, citing unfulfilled election promises by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. They criticized the government's implementation of monetary caps rather than land-based criteria, which they say contradicts national guidelines. Additionally, farmers raised concerns about delays in farm power connections and a growing paddy procurement crisis due to unmilled stock and logistical issues. They also welcomed the state Assembly's resolution opposing the Mekedatu dam construction and urged government intervention.