A massive protest was organized yesterday at Sengodampalayam in Erode district, where farmers and cooperative society members gathered to demand the fulfillment of the crop loan waiver promise made during the last Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
The Chief Minister had assured that loans taken from cooperative societies by farmers owning less than five acres would be completely waived, while those with more than five acres would receive a 50 percent waiver. Protesters expressed disappointment that recent government announcements have not met these expectations.
Drawing comparisons with Maharashtra, where ₹36,589 crore worth of loans benefiting 56 lakh farmers were waived, the protesters urged the Tamil Nadu government to announce a similar measure. They insisted that nearly 14.22 lakh farmers in the state should benefit from a complete waiver of cooperative crop loans, and demanded that the Chief Minister make an official declaration in the upcoming 2026–2027 Budget session.
The demonstration began yesterday morning in front of the Thindalmalai Primary Agricultural Cooperative Bank. Thousands of farmers, accompanied by their families, participated wearing symbolic green cloths to show solidarity.
The arrangements and coordination for the protest were effectively managed by cooperative farmers Subramani, Erode Corporation Ward 10 Councillor Kumaravel, Thangaraj, and Palanisamy.