On 28 July 2023, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, flagged off the ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ padayatra (foot march) spear headed by tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K Annamalai from the coastal town of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. This padayatra/ campaign seeks to make a resounding impact ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
15% of India's total Palmyra trees are in TN's Ramanathapuram Dist, yet, Palmyra workers remain economically weak.
BJP will replace TASMAC liquor with Palmyra/Coconut toddy & distribute Palmyra products through Ration shops, if voted to power, vows Annamalai.#EnMannEnMakkal pic.twitter.com/YjEBmvtBub
— Ethirajan Srinivasan 🇮🇳🚩 (@Ethirajans) August 1, 2023
In an address to a massive crowd in Ramanathapuram as part of the padayatra, Annamalai, made a fervent pledge to uplift the economically weak palmyra farmers in the region. Highlighting the significance of palmyra trees in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram District, which boasts 15% of India’s total palmyra tree count, Annamalai lamented the prevailing poverty among these farmers and presented a promising vision for their betterment.
Addressing the issue head-on, Annamalai unveiled a comprehensive plan to replace TASMAC liquor with palmyra and coconut toddy, while simultaneously distributing palmyra products through ration shops. He emphasised that the aim of this strategic move is to eliminate the exploitation of the youth and the detrimental effects of alcohol addiction, which he attributed to the conspiracy by the DMK government.
Annamalai said, “Opening more TASMAC outlets all over Tamil Nadu and in order to get more revenue, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government is making our people drunkards and alcohol addicts. The Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party is very clear about the fact that we will open toddy shops in the state. We are clear about passing on the products of coconut and palmyra trees. BJP aims to distribute palm sugar instead of white sugar through ration/PDS shops. There are 10 crore palm trees in India of which 5 crore are in Tamil Nadu and Ramanathapuram constitutes 1.5 crore trees i.e., 15% palm trees of the whole of India is in Ramanathapuram. If we close TASMAC outlets and pass on the products of palm and coconut trees to the people, there will be no poor person here. Whoever has a palm tree at their home should be rich.”
The BJP leader advocated for the utilisation of the vast potential of palmyra and coconut trees, expressing his commitment to providing extensive benefits to the people of Tamil Nadu. He asserted that if the BJP is voted to power, brown sugar extracted from palmyra would replace white sugar in ration shops, further supporting the economic prosperity of palmyra farmers.
Annamalai made a compelling case for the economic impact of this plan, noting that Tamil Nadu alone boasts a staggering 5 crore palmyra trees, with Ramanathapuram District alone accounting for 1.5 crore trees, representing 15% of India’s palmyra tree population. According to him, this abundance of resources, if rightfully recognised and marketed, could transform Ramanathapuram into one of the wealthiest districts in India.
In his address, Annamalai drew a sharp contrast between the prevailing situation, where palmyra farmers toil tirelessly, yet remain impoverished and living in meager conditions, and the promising future he envisions under a BJP-led government. He painted a picture of prosperity and improved livelihoods, where palmyra farmers will no longer languish in poverty, and their hard work will be adequately rewarded.
The BJP leader also criticised the current government’s operation of TASMAC, alleging that it is meant to support certain liquor factories, perpetuating the exploitation of palmyra farmers for personal gains.
Annamalai reaffirmed the BJP’s unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of palmyra farmers and ushering in a new era of prosperity through the promotion and recognition of palmyra and coconut products.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.