AIKS Demands Declaration of National Calamity and Relief on A War Footing to Tamilnadu

Massive Loss to Life and Livelihood as Cyclone Fenegal Devastates Tamilnadu
AIKS Demands Declaration of National Calamity and Relief on A War Footing
Ensure Adequate Compensation to Farmers Who Suffered Big Losses

New Delhi – The All India Kisan Sabha notes with deep concern the damage caused by Cyclone Fengal which hit Tamilnadu recently. The severity of the natural calamity is such that 24 people are already reported to have lost their lives. Further, 1,400 cattle and 82,000 chickens have died and were swept away by the flood. In eight districts including Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi and Krishnagiri, 3 lakh acres of paddy, one lakh acres of gram, one lakh acres of horticultural crops and other crops including groundnut, maize, banana, sugarcane have been damaged and the farmers have lost thousands of crores of rupees. Crop losses are reported in more than six lakh acres of land. In a single day in Villupuram district alone, 64 cm of rain wreaked havoc.
Infrastructure has suffered a major blow in the state. Some 5,936 schools, 2,400 government buildings, 9,576 km of roads, 1,847 small bridges have been damaged. About 417 lakes and ponds suffered damage and 3,664 poles and 648 transformers were destroyed, disrupting electricity.

Water entered more than one lakh houses and more than five thousand houses suffered destruction. Some 2,500 acres of coastal areas have been submerged in salt water and thousands of workers have lost their jobs. About 65,000 families and one and a half crore people have been affected by the calamity.
There has been a massive loss of livelihood opportunities. In view of such an unprecedented calamity, the Union government must immediately intervene, declare this as a national calamity and provide all necessary financial assistance to the state government for expediting relief efforts.

Volunteers of the AIKS are on the ground helping the people in villages. Our support remains steadfast to the people of Tamilnadu in this hour of crisis. AIKS appeals to the public to generously donate to Tamilnadu state committee of AIKS which is spearheading the relief efforts in the rural areas.