Tiruchy: Sugarcane farmers in Tamil Nadu have announced that their ongoing protest against the Thanjavur Thirumandangudi sugar factory will continue after a tripartite meeting failed to resolve. The farmers are demanding the settlement of arrears from the factory, which has not paid them for sugarcane supplied between 2016 and 2018, reported DTNext.
The three-hour meeting involved representatives from farmers’ associations, elected officials, government representatives, and factory officials.
As per media report, the factory administration proposed settling 57 percent of the total arrears, but the minister, MPs, District Collector Deepak Jacob, and farmer representatives insisted on a complete settlement. Eventually, factory officials committed to clearing 75 percent of the dues within the next 10 days.
Displeased with the factory’s response, Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers Association General Secretary Ravindran and Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association Secretary Swamimalai Sundara Vimalnathan announced the continuation of the protest in front of the factory. Farmers had sent sugarcane for crushing at the Thiru Arooran Sugar factory in Thirumandangudi near Papanasam, but the factory failed to disburse payments for the period between 2016 and 2018, and no pricing for sugarcane was fixed.
