Jallikattu, farmer woes cast shadow over Pongal revelry

CHENNAI: On Pongal day, as communities across Tamil Nadu celebrate the harvest festival, a group of farmer association representatives will launch a hunger strike in the Cauvery delta in the hope of having their grievances heard.

“Our farmers do not have even a handful of rice, which is symbolically allowed to boil over as a mark of celebrating Pongal. That is how bad the situation is,” said general secretary of the All Farmers Coordination Committee, P R Pandian.

“While the state government declaring 32 districts as drought-hit is a welcome step, it must reconsider the quantum and mode of compensation announced. The central government is yet to consider declaring Tamil Nadu a drought-affected region and relief for farmers from the centre seems to be a far cry,” he said.

Typically Pongal celebrations are a riot of colour and pomp heightened by folk music and a rustic richness of traditions, this year there is a muted air to all the festivities. Political parties, youth forums, social activists and students have been taking to the street demanding permission to conduct Jallikattu (bull taming) across the state.

Farmers have not been able to recover from the loss of over half of their crops, with at least 80% of the harvest affected in and around the Cauvery delta region.

On Thursday, the state erupted in protests after Supreme Court refused to show urgency in delivering the verdict in connection with the conduct of Jallikattu (which is usually held during Pongal – January 14). The Tamil Nadu chief minister dashed off to Andhra Pradesh to strike a deal for supply of water from the river Krishna to the drought-hit state.

While the state government is dealing with rising tempers on the Jallikattu ban - an integral part of Pongal celebrations--it is also having to deal with the grave situation of farmers suicides and demand for instant drought relief.