The entire South India has been facing massive droughts including Tamil Nadu. CPI(M) is holding a state wide protest in Tamil Nadu demanding higher compensation (Rs 10 lakhs) for families of those farmers who have died and is also demanding 200 days of employment guarantee under MNREGA. Road roko is being staged all over the state in which thousands of people have participated and have been arrested. G Ramakrishnan, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and state secretary took part in the protest at Nagarcoil in Kanyakumari district.

Addressing the protest, he said, although the state government had announced that the entire state has been hit by drought, it has not yet given compensation to the affected people. No agriculture worker has got employment. He urged the state and central governments to increase the compensation and act immediately.