Hundreds of farmers from different organisations, including AIKM held a protest at Samayapuram in Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu) on September 15, 2026 demanding complete waiver of crop loans by the TVK government.
Despite police restrictions, including denial of permission to put up a shed at the protest site, farmers continued their agitation. Several farmer leaders travelling from different districts were also arrested or detained by the police. The restrictions on the right to protest are condemnable. Millions of farmers burdened by debt due to the lack of remunerative MSP for their produce, natural calamities and other hardships voted for the TVK in the hope that this promise would be implemented.
The TVK had promised during the Assembly elections that crop loans of small and marginal farmers owning up to five acres would be completely waived. However, the government has now imposed limits on the waiver. Under its latest announcement, loans up to Rs 75,000 will be fully waived, while farmers with loans above Rs 1 lakh will receive a maximum waiver of only Rs 35,000. Farmers’ organisations said this amounts to a betrayal of the election promise and discrimination against small and marginal farmers.
Farmers’ organisations have pointed to the larger loan-waiver measures announced in Maharashtra and Telangana. They have demanded that the Tamil Nadu government follow a similar approach and waive the entire crop loans of small and marginal farmers without imposing any upper ceiling.
