Parents of students of the Panchayat Union Elementary School, Sulur, petitioned the district administration officials at the weekly grievance day on Monday seeking protection to the school.
The parents, who were present along with their children at the Collectorate, said the Sunday night incident by miscreants, who threw inflammable materials, had damaged uniforms, footwear, and books kept for distribution to the students. This was the second such incident in a week as miscreants had attempted earlier to set fire to a portion of the school.
This had raised apprehensions in their minds about their children’s safety. The parents said they wanted the district administration to direct the Coimbatore Rural Police to provide adequate security at the school. They also raised slogans in this regard.
The parents said that after the first incident, when they decided against sending their children to the school, officials from the School Education Department talked to them and assured of steps to increase safety measures.
They want the Department to also post a watchman at the school, the parents added.
Farmers seek intrest-free loans
The Tamil Nadu farmers’ association, affiliated to the All India Kisan Sabha, on Monday petitioned the district administration seeking interest-free loans to farmers cultivating minor millets.
The association’s president Su. Palanisamy said the number of farmers cultivating minor millets had come down over the years. Earlier, farmers cultivated minor millets on dry lands and as inter-crop while taking up cultivation of cereals or pulses.
The minor millets were not only good for health but also increased farmers’ income. Now, due to various factors, minor millet cultivation was not remunerative. To encourage farmers to take up minor millets cultivation, the State Government should support the farmers with ₹50,000 an acre and the district administration should forward their petition to the Government for consideration.
Plea to disburse pending wages
Uzhaipor Urimai Iyakkam, a workers’ body that is affiliated to the trade union, AICCTU, on Monday sought the Coimbatore district administration’s intervention in the issue delayed wage disbursement to 43 migrant workers of a steel rod manufacturing unit.
In its petition, the workers’ body said the manufacturing unit was yet to pay ₹. 10 lakh to the workers, whom it had hired through a contractor. If the workers were to approach the manufacturing unit management, they were told that it was the contractor's responsibility to pay them. And, if they approached the contractor, he told them that unless the unit management paid him, he would not be able to disburse the money.
Chatrapathi Shivaji statue
Hindu Bharat Sena on Monday urged the district administration to earmark a place for erecting Maratha king Chatrapathi Shivaji's statue in Coimbatore.