Wed Jan 14 16:14:29 UTC 2026: # Tamil Nadu Government Allocates Relief Funds to Farmers Affected by Monsoon and Cyclone

The Story:
The Tamil Nadu government, on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, announced a relief package of ₹111.96 crore for farmers whose crops were damaged by the Northeast monsoon and Ditwah cyclone during 2025-26. Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, issued a statement countering criticisms from PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss. He highlighted the DMK government’s commitment to farmer welfare, pointing out that over ₹289.63 crore had already been distributed to farmers affected by the 2024 and 2025 Northeast monsoons, covering 2.29 lakh hectares.

Panneerselvam also criticized the previous AIADMK administration’s handling of farmer relief, emphasizing that the DMK government has provided ₹1,631.53 crore to over 20.84 lakh affected farmers in the past four years and that agricultural production was higher under the DMK’s governance.

Key Points:

  • The Tamil Nadu government is providing ₹111.96 crore in relief to farmers affected by the 2025-26 Northeast monsoon and Ditwah cyclone.
  • The relief will cover approximately 56,226 hectares of affected crops.
  • Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam defended the DMK government’s actions against criticisms from PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss.
  • The DMK government claims to have provided ₹1,631.53 crore in relief to over 20.84 lakh farmers during the past four years.
  • The Minister criticised the previous AIADMK regime, suggesting lower agricultural production during their time in power.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Tamil Nadu government is actively responding to agricultural distress caused by natural disasters.
  • Political rivalry between the DMK and other parties like PMK is playing out in the context of disaster relief.
  • The DMK government is using farmer relief efforts to highlight its performance relative to the previous AIADMK administration.
  • The significant amount of relief funds allocated highlights the vulnerability of Tamil Nadu’s agriculture to monsoon seasons and cyclones.

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