A nationwide farmers' protest was held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, demanding the immediate withdrawal of recently introduced genetically edited rice varieties and the enactment of a national law to compensate people and crops affected by wildlife attacks.
Under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association founder and lawyer Easan Murugasamy, the protest voiced strong opposition to the Central Government’s approval of genetically edited rice varieties — DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1. The protesters highlighted that India already has over 5,000 traditional rice varieties, which are resilient to drought and climate change, and rich in essential nutrients. These heirloom varieties also support biodiversity.
Critics argued that the new genetically edited varieties were introduced without proper environmental assessments, violating existing environmental protection norms. The farmers emphasized that while traditional and natural farming methods are being promoted across the country, the simultaneous push for genetically altered crops contradicts those efforts and threatens farmers' rights and food safety for over 1.4 billion Indians.
The protest also called for a national-level legal framework to compensate individuals and communities affected by wildlife-related damage. From 2019 to 2023, 2,853 human deaths and crop losses worth over ₹10,000 crore annually were attributed to wildlife incursions. Elephants, wild boars, leopards, tigers, monkeys, and other animals have increasingly encroached upon farmlands, especially affecting small-scale farmers, plantation workers, tribal communities, and fisherfolk living near forest areas.
While the Wildlife Protection Act (Section 39) declares all wild animals as government property, Article 300 of the Indian Constitution provides for compensation in cases of loss caused by government entities or assets. Protesters urged for a uniform legal mechanism across India to address compensation delays and disparities between states.
The protest saw participation from multiple states and organizations, including Kerala Farmers’ Association President P.T. John, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Tamil Nadu Coordinator R. Nandakumar, Odisha’s Amulya Nayak, Karnataka Farmers’ Union’s Basavaraj, and several Tamil Nadu representatives. Notably, Bharatiya Kisan Union National Coordinator Yudhvir Singh also extended support.
At the conclusion, the protestors submitted formal memorandums to concerned ministries, urging the Central Government to withdraw the genetically edited rice varieties and legislate a nationwide compensation framework for wildlife-affected individuals and crops.