Demanding immediate disbursal of money for the paddy procured from them, a group of farmers from Manur Union and Thirumalaikozhunthupuram near Palayamkottai submitted petition to District Collector R. Sukumar on Monday.

Led by D. Abraham, president of Tamil Nadu All Farmers’ Associations Coordination Committee, said the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), the apex body of the consumer cooperatives in India, purchased paddy from the farmers of Azhagiyapandiapuram near Manur recently.

The NCCF neither paid the money for the paddy procured from the agriculturists nor transported it to their godowns. Hence, the procured paddy was remaining at the spot where it was procured.

When the affected farmers submitted petition to the Tahsildar of Manur seeking early disbursal of the money for the paddy procured, talks were held on April 30 last with the NCCF, which promised to settle the amount to the farmers within 10 days.

“However, the NCCF is yet to disburse the amount to the farmers as promised in the presence of the Tahsildar of Maanur. Hence, the Collector should order the NCCF to give the farmers the paddy procurement money with 10% interest for this agonising delay,” Mr. Abraham said.

Another group of villagers from Thirumalaikozhunthupuram near Palayamkottai also submitted a separate petition with similar prayer to the Collector. The villagers said they, who sold their paddy at the Direct Procurement Centre in their hamlet, were waiting for more than two months for the money.

“Since all the farmers of Thirumalaikozhunthupuram are carrying out their farming operations after taking loans from the cooperative banks and other financial institutions, the delay in disbursing the paddy procurement amount has badly affected the growers. Hence, the Collector should instruct the officials concerned to settle the amount immediately,” said the petitioners.

Three women teachers of a government-aided middle school in Tirunelveli Town submitted a petition complaining about alleged sexual harassment by the correspondent of the school. The petitioner teachers said they, following sexual harassment by the correspondent of the school, submitted a complaint with the headmistress of the school.

“As there was no positive reply from the headmistress of forwarding the complaint to the officials of Department of School Education, we filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City. Even though the Tirunelveli Town police registered a case against the correspondent and the headmistress, no further action has been taken based on the First Information Report. Since the new academic year will start shortly, there is no safety for us as we’ve given complaint against the correspondent and the headmistress. Hence, the Collector should initiate action against the correspondent and the headmistress,” said the teachers.