TN This Week: Irala Tribals Protest Stopped Before Entering Chennai

Chennai: More than 70 Irula tribal people were arrested by the police on December 14, while they were marching from Cuddalore to Chennai demanding caste certificates. Hundreds of Irulars from Panruti, Cuddalore and Kurunjipadi taluks have applied for caste certificates, but have not received them for several years.

Piggery farmers in Tamil Nadu are worried as Kerala’s stringent ban on the transportation of pigs from other states, to contain the contagious spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), has pushed them into distress.

Condemning the portrayal of Ambedkar with saffron clothes, the dalit liberation party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on December 12 staged protests across the state against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Hindu Munnani and other Right-wing organisations.

After state-run corporation Aavin’s milk prices were increased, the company hiked the price of ghee by Rs 50 per litre.

NewsClick brings you a roundup of key happenings in Tamil Nadu during the week.

IMPACT OF CYCLONE MANDOUS

Heavy rains continued in many districts this week, and many districts in northern Tamil Nadu declared a holiday for schools on December 12.

Cyclone Mandous, which intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on December 10, resulted in around 300-350 trees uprooting at different locations in Chennai and as many as 27 flights were cancelled on December 11.

As the fishing activity was suspended for 10 days, the livelihood of fishermen was adversely impacted. Many nets and boats were damaged in the storm. Fisherfolk urged the government to provide Rs 15,000 for each damaged trawler.

Heavy downpours submerged crops in various districts. The Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam demanded the state government pay Rs 20,000 per acre for both submerged paddy and groundnut crops in the Ranipet district.

FARMERS’ CONCERNS

The sugarcane farmers from Thanjavur, who are yet to receive the pending dues from Thiru Arooran Sugars Limited, held relay protests. Members from various farmer's associations who joined in solidarity were arrested on December 10. 

A group of farmers staged a protest, demanding pension for ryots above 60 years and submitted a petition with Tiruchy Collector here on December 12. They said that the senior citizen farmers are unable to get work, nor are they supported by their families.

The Tamil Nadu farmers, cultivating cardamom in Idukki in Kerala, have urged the TN government to exert pressure on the Centre to increase the procurement prices for the spice as they have incurred huge losses from rains. Read more

STALIN’S SON INDUCTED INTO CABINET

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) youth wing secretary-cum- Chepauk-Triplicane MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin was inducted into the state cabinet on December 14. Chief minister MK Stalin’s son was allotted youth and sports welfare portfolios. 

Junior Stalin's induction into his father’s cabinet was seen by the opposition as yet another 'sonrise' chapter in the Dravidian party and the strengthening of the ‘dynasty reign’. Read more

A few believe this is a tactic to divert the youth of the state from being drawn by the BJP, whose state chief Annamalai is a young face in the state’s political sphere.

INTERVENTION IN BEGGARY, BONDED LABOUR

Soon, the state labour department would launch a scientific study of socio-economic factors underlying the prevalence of child and bonded labourers in the state. The outcome of the study is planned to reflect in the framing of government policies and schemes.

The Tamil Nadu police launched Operation New Life, a mission to rescue beggars. As part of the mission, the police rounded up 1,800 beggars in the state, out of which, 953 were admitted to Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs). However, the state has no government-run rehabilitation facility capable of accommodating the ‘rescued’.

MORE ONLINE GAMBLING SUICIDES

Two youngsters from Coimbatore died by suicide upon losing money playing online gambling games.

A 29-year-old engineer died on December 12 and another by hanging on December 15

AIADMK HOLDS STATE-WIDE DEMOS

Condemning the state government for increasing electricity tariffs, property taxes, milk and other commodities prices, scores of AIADMK cadre staged protest demonstrations across Tamil Nadu. Read more

The sulking AIADMK factions led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS) have filed yet another interim petition and counter-petition in the Supreme Court regarding the ongoing legal battle over the party leadership.