Marching naked, eating excreta; TN farmers risk all for PM's attention

Tamil Nadu, September 24: Crippled by debt, struck by falling prices of crop and threatened by increasing suicides, farmers from Tamil Nadu travelled to New Delhi on April 10, requesting the central government to meet their demands and alleviate their suffering. Their innovative protests have caught the attention of the entire nation with measures ranging from begging bowls to holding skulls of dead farmers. They have protested naked, they have eaten mice, consumed urine and conducted mock funerals. They have marched with ropes around their necks, eaten excreta and human flesh. The farmers are battling Tamil Nadu's worst drought in 140 years. The protesting farmer's main demands are:

• drought relief package,
• The formation of  Cauvery Management Committee
• networking of all rivers
• loan waiver
• profitable price for agricultural products

Legally the central government and not the state government has the power to fulfill the farmer's demands. The 100th day of protest crossed on September 2. They have risked all kind of indignities and struggles for an audience with the prime minister and continue to wait in desperation. Text from script authored by Sudhanya Shetty for The Logical Indian Published by Sahifa SM