Chennai: B.R. Pandian, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of All Agricultural Societies of Tamil Nadu, has urged that the Pongal prize scheme should be implemented as soon as possible.
He told reporters in Chennai yesterday that the Tamil Nadu government should come forward to continue implementing the Pongal prize scheme which was brought with a lofty goal. A large number of farmers have cultivated crops such as sugarcane, banana and turmeric by relying on this scheme.
Now the farmers are shocked as news is coming that the Tamil Nadu government is going to give Rs.1,000 to the family card and give up the Pongal gift scheme.
Therefore, the government should come forward to implement this scheme expeditiously by integrating the cooperative, agriculture and food sectors under the Department of Special Implementation Schemes Minister Udayanithi Stalin.
In the cabinet meeting to be held today (Dec. 19), an appropriate decision should be taken not to abandon the Pongal gift scheme.
We welcome the announcement by the Tamil Nadu government that they will not acquire agricultural land without the consent of the farmers for setting up an industrial park in Annoor area of Coimbatore district. At the same time, if factories are set up in that area, the agricultural lands will be destroyed. Therefore, other barren places should be found and industrial estates should be set up there. This is what he said. Farmers have cultivated crops like sugarcane, banana, turmeric, etc., relying on this scheme.