Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam held a protest here against the Center’s plan to end free electricity at the Anna Statue near the new bus stand.
The protesters condemned the BJP government’s reform package to the States, linking it to the withdrawal of free power from farmers, among other reforms. The Center linked State borrowings to reforms that included power reforms that would put an end to free power for farmers. Instead, the grant would be transferred as the Bank Transfer Director.
The demonstrators also condemned the changes to the Essential Commodities Act, which would deregulate food products.
According to the farmer wing of the CPI (M), the move would encourage hoarding, create artificial food shortages and encourage corporate profit-making. These actions were an indication that the government was determined to distance itself from the welfare and support of farmers. The farmers ‘wing argued that these amendments and reform packages would put an end to price support through farmers’ procurement of products.
The Sangam also called for the removal of the constitutional legislation to end the free power of farmers and the changes to the Essential Commodities Act.
In Erode, the first zonal-level consultative meeting organised by various farmers’ association under the banner “Free Electricity Rights Protection Joint Movement”, here on Tuesday passed a resolution stating that the proposed draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 would adversely affect the farmers and the government should withdraw the bill and free electricity to farmers should continue,
Other resolutions include the continuation of free electricity for farmers, the cancelation of the scheme under which farmers who need additional horsepower can make use of it by paying 20,000 per horsepower per farmland, the provision of free electricity to farmers who have registered and are waiting for 15 years, and the transfer of electricity from the concurrent list of the Central Government to the State Government.
