Opposition stage walkout in Kerala Assembly over fall in rubber prices

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition in Kerala Assembly, excluding sole member of the BJP, staged a walkout on Tuesday in protest against inaction of Central and State governments in checking fall in prices of rubber and coconut.

The walkout came after Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refused permission to move an adjournment motion, given notice of by Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani, in view of explanation given by Agriculture Minister V. S. Sunilkumar on action taken by the government.

Besides Kerala Congress (M) members, UDF members and independent member P. C. George joined the walkout with Mr. George stating that he was walking out also in protest against role played by the previous (UPA) government at the Centre in facilitating rubber imports.

The Agriculture Minister said that the government had released Rs. 254 crore as subsidy to farmers. Fresh registration of farmers, who could not register earlier for the subsidy scheme, was being permitted. Memorandum had been submitted to the Centre urging it to restrict rubber imports through advance licence.

The State government had also represented against plan for regional comprehensive economic partnership and demanded that the States should be consulted before the Centre entered into any agreement with other nations in this regard. Kerala also planned to organise a conference of agriculture ministers of like-minded States against GM seeds.

He said that of the agroparks planned in 14 districts, those in Kottayam and Pathananthitta district would be for rubber-based industries.

Mr. Sunil Kumar said that arrears in payments for paddy procured had been cleared. Some issues were pending regarding payments under coconut procurement programme. A vigilance enquiry was underway regarding payment of Rs. 69 crore.

He also noted that one lakh ineligible persons were getting agriculture workers’ pension. Once the deficiencies of the scheme are rectified, arrears would be released.

Mr. Mani said that agriculture workers’ pension was in arrears for seven months. There were many complaints about subsidy scheme for rubber. Coconut procurement was taking place only through a few krishi bhavans. Paddy procurement was in disarray. These issued should be addressed urgently.

He recalled that Minister P. Chidambaram of previous Congress government at the Centre had permitted imports of rubber. The State government should lead a delegation to Delhi to take up the issue with the Centre.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the rubber subsidy scheme had been stalled. Uploading of bills for subsidy was not taking place. The Modi government at the Centre was adopting a negative stand towards rubber cultivators. It was even considering closure of Rubber Board. The wrong policies of the Centre and inefficiency of the State government had precipitated the present situation.