Irked by collector’s late arrival, farmers walk out of grievance redressal meet

TNN | Updated: Oct 21, 2017, 00:51 IST

Madurai: Irked by the late arrival of collector K Veera Raghava Rao for the grievance redressal meeting, a section of farmers staged a walkout alleging that none of their grievances have been redressed by the administration.

he meeting, held once a month at the collector's office commenced at 11am. But, the collector, caught in various assignments especially in dengue preventive inspections reached the meeting around 12pm. District revenue officer, R Gunalan and agriculture department officials were conducting the meeting till then. The farmers were anxious to know about the water release for samba paddy crop. As soon as the collector arrived, he went out to distribute farm implements to beneficiaries.

With emotions already running high among the farmers, the distribution process irked them a great deal, and a section of them decided to stage a walkout from the meeting hall. Addressing media persons outside the hall, S Murugesan from Kathapatti village said that no replies has been given by the district administration on the grievance petitions filed. There is no point in attending the meeting, farmers staging a walkout charged.

However, other section of farmers stayed back in the hall and the meeting proceeded. Addressing the farmers later, collector explained that he had pressing assignments and could not attend the meeting. But the meeting was not delayed as other officials had carried on with it. The meeting has elements like knowledge sharing, hearing grievance petitions and replied and discussing common problems of farming community. It is not necessary that collector has to be present all through the meeting, he said.