Chennai: Opposition leader Udhayanidhi has alleged that the TVK government is showing little concern for farmers’ welfare, citing the continued vacancy in the Agriculture Department’s top administrative post.
In a statement, he noted that IAS officer Shankar, who served as Agriculture Secretary, was transferred as Archaeology Commissioner about a month ago. Since then, no new Agriculture Secretary has been appointed, a delay he said has caused anxiety among farmers.
Udhayanidhi questioned how the government could justify leaving a department with its own budget without a full-time secretary. With the monsoon season approaching, he said the Agriculture Department needs stable administrative leadership.
He also referred to an announcement by farmers’ associations that they plan to lay siege to the Secretariat in Chennai on October 14, pressing for a complete waiver of crop loans as stated in the government’s election promises.
Urging the government to avoid further delay, he demanded the immediate appointment of an experienced senior IAS officer as full-time Agriculture Secretary to safeguard farming and address farmers’ concerns.
