A group of these farmers began these alarming forms of protest in Trichyin December, where they held dead rats in their mouths. The farmers, owing allegiance to the Desiya Thennidiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam had claimed that they were pushed to poverty because the drought had destroyed their crop. While their protests outside the Collectorate shook the system, it did not lead to the results they desired.
Unhappy with a compensation of only Rs 3000 provided by the state, these farmers decided to pursue the matter with the Centre. Arriving in Delhi on March 13, over 80 farmers protested with the skulls of agriculturalists, who had committed suicide. Following this, several political leaders from DMK, PMK, MDMK and even the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi met these farmers at Jantar Mantar, where their agitation continued.
While several promises were made, there was little or no measures taken to meet their demands. They have been demanding river interlinking, formation of the Cauvery board, pension of Rs. 5000 for farmers above the age of 60 and waiver of loans by banks and finance companies. They even met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee but despite the numerous petitions, the Centre has failed to respond to their demands.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu infact categorically stated at the sidelines of an event in Chennai on Sunday that the centre will not pay the additional Rs.39,000 crore demanded by the state as drought relief.
