Date:14/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/14/stories/2008081451740300.htm

Kerala - Palakkad

Joint Action Council to observe ‘anti-farmer day’

Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD: The Joint Action Council of farmers’ organisations here has decided to observe Chingam 1 (first day of the Malayalam year) as ‘anti-farmer day’ in protest against the “anti-farmer” policies of the State government.

The day is observed in the State as Farmers Day by the government.

The council said here on Wednesday that it had decided to resort to such a mode of protest because the government had passed the Kerala Paddy Field and Wetland Conservation Bill in the last session of the Assembly against the interests of farmers.

The Bill, instead of protecting farmers, had draconian provisions to jail them.

Farmers will take out a march from the town bus stand to the Martyrs Column on the occasion.

A meeting of the council held on Wednesday was presided over by chairman K.A. Chandran, former MLA, and addressed by Muthalamthode Mani, general convener; P.K. Narayanan, general coordinator, among others.