TN This Week: Karnataka Releases Cauvery Water, Standing Kuruvai Crops Saved

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a series of welfare measures in his 77th Independence Day speech on Tuesday, including the constitution of a welfare board for gig workers. While trade unions have welcomed the move, they noted that it falls short, emphasising that gig workers need to be recognised as workers. Read more

Stalin also announced that women from families with disabled members receiving government allowances can now apply for the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (women's entitlement fund). This change comes after the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) called for a protest on this issue.

After nearly seven months since the previous farming season, the state government has finally sanctioned relief for farmers who suffered crop losses due to drought. Last month, the state government identified a total of 25 blocks in six districts as moderate drought-hit.

The brutal attack on a Dalit student and his sister in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district, has sent shockwaves throughout Tamil Nadu. Anti-caste organisations and political parties in the state held protests on August 16, condemning the incident. Read more

Subsequently, in Keelanatham Vadakkur, Tirunelveli district, a Dalit ward member was murdered on August 13 allegedly by two individuals from the dominant Maravar community. The altercation reportedly began after N Rajamani (32) was accused of 'staring' at the youths while he was grazing goats.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the ruling party of Tamil Nadu, has vehemently opposed the use of Hindi names in the proposed overhaul of criminal laws in India. This reaction comes in response to a recent statement by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, suggesting that the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) be renamed as "Prakritik Neeti Sanhita" and "Apradh Prakriya Sanhita," respectively.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the important developments from across the state in the last week. 

NEET ASPIRANT’s SUICIDE

On August 13, S Jagadeeswaran, a 19-year-old NEET aspirant, died by suicide in Chromepet, Chennai, after failing his NEET examination. Shockingly, just hours after his cremation, his father also took his own life on Sunday morning. According to various news reports, over 20 NEET-related suicides have been reported in the state since 2017 – when the entrance exam became mandatory in India.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi criticised the DMK government, asserting that he would never approve the state's bill seeking exemption from NEET. However, the state's proposed legislation is awaiting clearance from the President.

CAUVERY WATER DISPUTE

Out of the five lakh acres in the Cauvery delta, approximately one and a half lakh acres relied on wells and borewells for irrigation. The remaining three and a half lakh acres depended on Cauvery water for cultivation. In total, 45% of the crops had dried up, prompting farmers to demand Cauvery water to salvage the remaining wilted crops. The CPI(M) called for a protest in delta districts to save the crops, and under CPI(M) leadership, farmers held three-day protest marches from August 16 to 18 in Nagapattinam district.

A protest march in Nagapattinam demanding water from Cauvery.

 

Following the instructions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), Karnataka commenced releasing 10,000 cusecs of water for a 15-day period, with the release beginning on Friday.