Karunanidhi announces solatium to families of 22 farmers

Chennai, Aug 3 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced in the state assembly a solatium of Rs 50,000 each to the families of 22 farmers, who allegedly committed suicide due to abject poverty during the previous regime.

Responding to a plea to this effect by Mr V Sivapunniyam (CPI), Mr Karunanidhi said the families would be distributed the relief amount on August 15.

He said it was tragic that the farmers, hailing from Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur had ended their lives due to povery after they could not take up cultivation when the severe drought condition hit the state during the previous regime.

Mr Sivapunniyam said that despite repeated pleas, the previous Jayalalithaa regime failed to provide compensation to the families.

The present Government, which had already come to the rescue of farmers by waiving farm loans to the tune of about Rs 7,000 crore should provide the relief, he added.

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