Coimbatore: A six-member team of ‘Ainthinai,’ a social forum for the welfare of farmers toured the Cyclone Gaja-affected Thanjavur district to take stock of damages in six places comprising of Pattukottai, Peravurani, and Vadakadu. Ainthinai has planned to conduct a series of meetings with the farmers and take their grievances forward to the Government for relief and rehabilitation.
Coimbatore: A six-member team of ‘Ainthinai,’ a social forum for the welfare of farmers toured the Cyclone Gaja-affected Thanjavur district to take stock of damages in six places comprising of Pattukottai, Peravurani, and Vadakadu. Ainthinai has planned to conduct a series of meetings with the farmers and take their grievances forward to the Government for relief and rehabilitation.
The Executive Trustee of Ainthinai, Karthikeya Sivasenapathy who shared his experiences with affected farmers said, “As we interacted with the affected farmers, we came to know that the farmers and farm laborers are yet to bounce back from the destructive trail left behind by Cyclone Gaja in which 90 percent of coconut trees which had been uprooted have not yet been been cleared.
While NGOs are at work to remove the uprooted trees on roadsides, the trees which were uprooted in the fields and nearby houses remain, reminding the farmers of the dark days of the Cyclone Gaja destruction due to which they could not carry on with their normal activities, as even now in the post-Gaja phase.
“The farmers lack the financial resources and manpower to remove the fallen debris and they were not in a position to continue with farming too,” said Siva Senapathy, adding that “The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University should spearhead the necessary arrangements to help restart farming practices in the affected region, since farmers have abandoned farming and are migrating for work to distant places, including Tirupur.”
While the Government should come forward to waive off tuition fees for all college students affected by the Cyclone Gaja for the next two years, packages for farmers should also be announced for their economic conditions since farmers have left for work to Tirupur and other areas, as farming offers them only a bleak prospect.
While elaborating on Ainthinai plans to do for the welfare of the affected farmers, Sivasenapthy said, “We will spearhead the action for bringing back farmers from the black memories of the Gaja Cyclone and help them with tree saplings and vegetable saplings to restart their farming practices"
While Ainthinai functions as an apolitical body aiming to help the depressed farmers, the forum aims to enlist the support of youth and students from all over Tamil Nadu to achieve their avowed aim.
"Ainthinai welcomes members from all parties as it is not against any political party, even though it will not contest in polls,“ stated Sivasenapathy, exhorting the youth to join Ainthinai in large numbers.
The Executive Trustee of Ainthinai, Karthikeya Sivasenapathy who shared his experiences with affected farmers said, “As we interacted with the affected farmers, we came to know that the farmers and farm laborers are yet to bounce back from the destructive trail left behind by Cyclone Gaja in which 90 percent of coconut trees which had been uprooted have not yet been been cleared.
While NGOs are at work to remove the uprooted trees on roadsides, the trees which were uprooted in the fields and nearby houses remain, reminding the farmers of the dark days of the Cyclone Gaja destruction due to which they could not carry on with their normal activities, as even now in the post-Gaja phase.
“The farmers lack the financial resources and manpower to remove the fallen debris and they were not in a position to continue with farming too,” said Siva Senapathy, adding that “The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University should spearhead the necessary arrangements to help restart farming practices in the affected region, since farmers have abandoned farming and are migrating for work to distant places, including Tirupur.”
While the Government should come forward to waive off tuition fees for all college students affected by the Cyclone Gaja for the next two years, packages for farmers should also be announced for their economic conditions since farmers have left for work to Tirupur and other areas, as farming offers them only a bleak prospect.
While elaborating on Ainthinai plans to do for the welfare of the affected farmers, Sivasenapthy said, “We will spearhead the action for bringing back farmers from the black memories of the Gaja Cyclone and help them with tree saplings and vegetable saplings to restart their farming practices"
While Ainthinai functions as an apolitical body aiming to help the depressed farmers, the forum aims to enlist the support of youth and students from all over Tamil Nadu to achieve their avowed aim.
"Ainthinai welcomes members from all parties as it is not against any political party, even though it will not contest in polls,“ stated Sivasenapathy, exhorting the youth to join Ainthinai in large numbers.