Tamil Nadu farmers vow to continue protest at Jantar Mantar

More than 150 farmers from Tamil Nadu have staged a protest in the national capital, demanding that the Centre declare a drought relief package and loan waiver for peasants from the southern state.

Already into the second day of their protest at Jantar Mantar, the farmers from Tanjavur and Tiruchirapalli in the state's Cauvery belt have warned that they will continue with their stir until the government gives them a hearing.

"We started our protest yesterday, but no one is ready to hear our issues. We are not planning to give up the protest until we are invited for talks by the Centre," said Iyyakannu of Desiya Thenninthiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam.

"We have no option other than protesting till our demands are met," he said.

Around 170 'half-naked' farmers arrived at the PM's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg yesterday with skulls of farmers who allegedly committed suicide and begging bowls to mark their protest.

"We want the Centre to announce Rs 40,000 crore of drought relief package, announce farmer loan waiver and assure us better support price for our produce," Iyyakannu said.

The protesters also demanded for unification of river.

"Though the state had sanctioned a drought relief package, it does not provide any relief as we are in deep crisis," said Iyyakannu.

Early this year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had sought a detailed report from Tamil Nadu after it took suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding the deaths of 106 farmers during a period of one month in Tamil Nadu.

On February 22, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami sanctioned a sum of Rs 2,247 crore as drought relief to more than 3.2 million farmers.

Jallikattu Back, Why Not Kambala, Asks Karnataka. Protests Begin

After protests in Tamil Nadu managed to achieve a reversal of the ban on bull-taming sport Jallikattu, many in Karnataka are demanding focus on Kambala -- a traditional sport in which water buffaloes are made to race down a track filled with mud and water. Under the same order in 2014, the Supreme Court had banned both Jallikattu and Kambala following complaints by animal welfare groups, which had pointed to the cruelty and stress inflicted on the animals in both sports.

Kambala used to be held in coastal regions of Karnataka. It was especially popular in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. In Kambala, two water buffaloes, yoked together, were made to run at top speed down a muddy, water-filled route. They were guided and whipped along by a man who ran with them.  

Activists had pointed out that water buffaloes are not built for speed and it is unnatural to make them run in such stress-filled conditions.

Vatal Nagaraj, a former legislator known for his many protests on many different issues, took to the streets of Bengaluru to demand that Kambala be restored to the people.  

Another protest was held at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Sunday. Like their counterparts in Tamil Nadu, Kannada film actors are also responding to questions on the issue, saying Kambala should also be allowed in Karnataka. Leading actors like Shivraj Kumar and Yash have come out in favour of its restoration.  Politicians, too, have lent their voices to the demand.

As in Tamil Nadu, social media is also playing a role. 

  

Last year in November, the Karnataka High Court had banned Kambala races following a public interest litigation filed by PETA.

Jallikattu row comes to rest: 10-point timeline on what led to legalisation of bull-taming sport

After week-long protests, the Tamil Nadu State Assembly on Monday overturned Supreme Court order banning controversial bull-taming sport of Jallikattu. The assembly passed a bill replacing an ordinance to legalise the bull-taming sports. After clearance of the bill, the row is expected to come to an end. The sports, which was legalised by state, was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014, then what led to violent protests two years after? Here's is 10 point timeline of the entire Jallikattu row.



Here is a 10 point timeline on what led to legalisation of Jallikatu row:

1)PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) first filed a plea against Jallikatu in the year 2004. In 2010, the apex court allowed cultural sport to be played for a period of five months in a year. However, it completely banned Jallikattu in 2014.

2) In June, 2016, the issue once again came in front of Supreme Court. A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra issued an order warning the Tamil Nadu government, for carrying out the sports. "Jallikattu cannot be merely allowed just because it was a century-old tradition. Whether it shall be continued will be decided legally," Justice Mishra said.

3) However, O Panneerselvam who took over as the Chief Minister after Jayalalithaa death, had vowed to start Jallikattu again on the auspicious day of Pongal. The state once again filed a fresh appeal to allow Tamilians organise Jallikattu.

4) However, the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Banumathi on January 12, 2017, agains declined to issue an interim order to allow Jallikattu just before Pongal. The bench had remarked, ?Though the draft of the judgment is ready, it's not possible to pass the verdict before Saturday when it is to be held. We also want to say that it is unfair of the petitioner to ask the bench to pass an order."

5) The centre, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared an ordinance on Thursday which legalised Jallikattu was cleared by the centre. Following a request to clear ordinance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that all efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people.

6) The state government, after receiving Centre's assurance on its support for efforts to conduct the sport, had followed the constitutional route and issued an ordinance amending the relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

7) A special Assembly session was called by AIADMK regime after Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao approved ordinance to legalise bull taming sports on Sunday. This was the first legislative House proceeding after the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

8) Celebrities including Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan expressed their concerns over state's law and order situation. "At this juncture, I am grieved to see certain incidents," Rajnikanth said in an apparent reference to the violence and the police crackdown. Haasan and Sri Sri Ravinshankar also appealed for peace.

9) Earlier in the day: Weeks long protests demanding leagalisation of bull-taming sports turned violent. The agitators went on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire at a few places, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach.

10) Jallikattu Bill passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously. Bull Taming in the state of Tamil Nadu has been legalised. Supreme Court ban overturned.

Verghese Kurien's 94th birthday: 15 amazing facts about the much-loved Amul Butter ads

Today is the 'Milkman of India' Verghese Kurien's 94th birth anniversary and Google has a doodle celebrating the day on its India home page. Kurien went on to lead the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd whose Amul is one of India's iconic brands.

Amul ads can also be seen as India's original Google doodles, with the Amul moppet taking a witty take on current events on hoardings and newspaper ads across the country. There have been over 4000 Amul Butter hoardings till date and there are an amazing number of facts about them. Here's our pick of 15:

1. Amul butter had been selling in the market for 10 years before the Amul moppet was conceived.

2. The 'Utterly' tagline was suggested by author Nisha daCunha, who is also the wife of Sylvester daCunha, the man behind the Amul butter advertising and chairman of daCunha Communications that has been handling the Amul Butter account for 49 years.

3. The Amul girl was born in 1966 (She still isn't 50 yet, but Amul celebrated her golden jubilee a couple of years ago.)

4. The moppet was created by Eustace Fernandes, who was then the art director at daCunha Communications. Fernandes passed away in March 2010.

5. The first of the ads featuring the girl in the polka dotted frock and a matching ribbon were not the huge hoardings that we are more acquainted with, but were put up on a few lamposts in Mumbai.

6. The first ever hoarding featuring the Amul girl had her saying a bedtime prayer (see the ad below). Interestingly, in her first major appearance the Amul girl wasn’t in her trademark polka-dotted frock.

7. The Amul Management (including Dr Verghese Kurien) did not interfere in the making of the ads and daCunha Communications did not even need to get their approval before putting up the ads.

8. While Amul ads are not known to trigger a controversy, but there have been a few ads that many objected to. The most controversial Amul butter ad of all time was perhaps the one after incidents of UK authorities conducting virginity tests on Indian women arriving at London airport. The text said “Indian virgin needs no urgin’!” Following protests Amul came up with another billboard apologising for the ad (See below).

9. Indian TV’s funny man Cyrus Broacha worked as a trainee copywriter with daCunha and of the many Amul hoardings that he helped conceive was the famous “Lara, kya mara!” following Brian Lara smashing Garry Sobers’ record for the highest score in Test cricket.

10. Jagmahon Dalmiya had tried to sue Amul for Rs 500 crore for a hoarding that said “Dalmiya mein kuch kala hai? Amul Maska khao, paisa nahin’ but had other thoughts when the courts required him to deposit 10 per cent of the amount.

11. The Ramalinga Raju (Satyam, Sharam, Scandalam) ad following the Satyam scam drew the ire of the Satyam board and they sent a letter demanding an apology else Satyam employees would quit consuming Amul products in protest.

12. In April 1995 the Election Commission got an Amul Butter hoarding painted black. The ad showed Congressman in a tug-of-war with the hand symbol and the Commission interpreted it as a political advertisement.

13. Pia Benegal, director Shyam Benegal’s daughter had as a kindergarten student lent her voice for the ‘Utterly Butterly Delicious’ ad jingle.

14. The present Amul Butter cartoons are drawn by Jayant Rane.

15. A number of Amul ads have been based on other much-discussed ads. Some samples:

An entire village shuns using chemicals for growing crops

Perunthalaivar Kamaraj KVK, Puducherry,has been responsible in bringing this tremendous change. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Farmers in Sorapattu village of Mannadipattu in Puducherry seem to have a lot of information on using integrated pest management (IPM) for protecting their crops rather than using chemical pesticides for the same.

IPM means judicious combination and use of all locally available pest control agents. All the farmers in the village have invariably curtailed the use of plant protection chemicals and started following practices like using neem oil, neem cake, tricho cards, light trap, pheromone trap, and ‘T’ shaped bird perches, thus helping them save more than Rs.5,000 per hectare towards crop protection (before they adopted this the cost was about Rs.6,800)

Since 1994

The emphasis on IPM in the region has been in practice since 1994, in order to bring down the indiscriminate usage of pesticides to contain crop pests and diseases while conserving and protecting natural insects in crop ecosystem.

Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Krishi Vigyan Kendra (PKKVK), Puducherry, in co-ordination with the agriculture department has been responsible in bringing this tremendous change in the attitude of the farmers towards this method.

Pesticide consumption in this region has come down significantly from 163 metric tonnes in 1990-91 to 40.92 tonnes in 2013-2014, resulting in a two-thirds reduction in its consumption. Similarly, the number of pesticides outlets has decreased from 196 in 1990-1991 to 115 in 2013-2014, nearly a 30 percent decrease. 

Lowest number

The lowest number of outlets was recorded in 2006-07 & 2007-08, according to Dr. N.Vijaykumar, subject specialist, who has been conferred nearly half a dozen awards by different sectors for his work on this subject.

“The concept has spread well and widely accepted by the farming community. The scripting success on its adoption, the strenuous efforts and consistent follow-up confirm that farmers have realised the ill-effects of chemicals in various crops which include rice, groundnut, cotton, coconut, banana, vegetables, flowers and sugarcane over years,” says Dr. Mohan Saveri Programme Coordinator.

During the past 17 years between 1997 and 2014 a total of 69 training programmes were conducted involving more than 2,000 participants.

Over the years, the duration of the trainings ranged from one to five days and more number of trainings conducted among different crops. Emphasis was placed on seeing is believing, teaching by doing and learning by practicing in these training sessions.

Apart from the regular training, field visits and farm advisory services were also carried out.

Different channels

The success achieved in popularising these technologies is mainly due to the creation of awareness and transferring skills through participatory as well as farmer to farmer mode, by conducting farmers’ field schools, imparting training, printing and distribution of leaflets and pamphlets, conducting demonstrations and rendering prescription support farm advisory services.

The Kendra took on the responsibility of making available different bio agents and bio control inputs for the farmers since sourcing them on time could prove very time consuming and laborious.

The green revolution laid more emphasis on producing quantity and this led to indiscriminate and over use of chemical insecticides to control insect pests and produce higher yields. 

Past decade

But in the past decade increasing awareness on the toxin residues on the crops and the need for a safe and efficient alternative which can help farmers cut costs and at the same time produce healthy food is fast finding acceptance among both the sectors, according to Dr. Mohan Saveri, Programme Coordinator of the Kendra.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi had conferred the Kendra with the best KVK award for promoting IPM through Integrated extension approaches to the farming community.

For further details please contact Dr.N.Vijaykumar, Subject Matter Specialist (Agricultural Entomology), KVK Puducherry, Mobile: 9442525675, email:dr.nithyavijai@gmail.com and Dr. Mohan Saveri, Programme Coordinator, Mobile: 9442525674.