PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has called on the Tamil Nadu government to buy sugarcane directly from farmers and provide two canes per family in the Pongal gift hamper. He expressed concerns over delays and unclear policies that are causing distress to cultivators. Anbumani highlighted the financial burden on farmers, noting the discrepancy between the cost of cultivation and the price they receive for sugarcane.
The PMK leader criticized the involvement of middlemen in the procurement process, stating that farmers are not getting their fair share due to additional costs. He also raised issues with the current procurement norms, particularly the requirement for sugarcane to be longer than seven feet, leading to rejections of produce. Anbumani emphasized the importance of supporting farmers by increasing the procurement price and eliminating intermediaries.
Anbumani Ramadoss emphasized the need for the government to address the shrinking sugarcane cultivation area in Tamil Nadu by ensuring a fair price of Rs 50 per cane, removing middlemen, and providing two sugarcanes per ration card in the Pongal package. He also expressed concerns about law and order issues, citing a recent violent incident at Tiruttani railway station involving a migrant worker. The PMK leader highlighted the growing problems of drug abuse and alcohol-related violence in the state.
CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam echoed the call for strengthening the Pongal gift scheme by including one kilogram of jaggery along with rice and sugar. He emphasized the importance of direct procurement from farmers to support them and uphold the festive spirit of the harvest celebration.
