Over 100 farmers staged a sit-in protest in front of the Madathukulam Panchayat Union office in Tiruppur district. They alleged Rs 10 lakh misappropriation in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and demanded action.
Coimbatore: Members of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and the All India Agricultural Workers Union staged a sit-in protest in front of the Madathukulam Panchayat Union office in Tiruppur district. The farmers raised slogans highlighting their demands and concerns.
The protesters alleged that Rs 10 lakh from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was misappropriated and improperly paid to a government employee in the nearby Vedapatti village. They demanded immediate action against all those involved in this irregularity.
The farmers also urged the authorities to permit the creation of circular basins for coconut trees under the 100-day work scheme for all farmers, similar to the practice in Dindigul district. Additionally, they called for the allocation of Rs 100 crore for the renovation of the Amaravati Cooperative Sugar Mill to protect agriculture in the region.
Following the protest, the farmers engaged in talks with officials at the Union office. During the discussion, the Block Development Officers acknowledged that the payment of Rs 10 lakh to the government employee was a violation of rules. They assured the farmers in writing that the misappropriated amount would be recovered and action would be taken against those involved in the irregularity.
The officials also promised to address the farmers' other demands promptly. Based on these assurances, the sit-in protest was temporarily called off.
The protesters alleged that Rs 10 lakh from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was misappropriated and improperly paid to a government employee in the nearby Vedapatti village. They demanded immediate action against all those involved in this irregularity.
The farmers also urged the authorities to permit the creation of circular basins for coconut trees under the 100-day work scheme for all farmers, similar to the practice in Dindigul district. Additionally, they called for the allocation of Rs 100 crore for the renovation of the Amaravati Cooperative Sugar Mill to protect agriculture in the region.
Following the protest, the farmers engaged in talks with officials at the Union office. During the discussion, the Block Development Officers acknowledged that the payment of Rs 10 lakh to the government employee was a violation of rules. They assured the farmers in writing that the misappropriated amount would be recovered and action would be taken against those involved in the irregularity.
The officials also promised to address the farmers' other demands promptly. Based on these assurances, the sit-in protest was temporarily called off.