From the price stabilisation fund, Rs 284 crore had been given as subsidy to rubber growers after the state government has come to power, he said, while rejecting the charge of Congress-led UDF opposition that the government had failed to attend to the issues of rubber farmers.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would convene a high-level meeting to discuss the problems faced by rubber growers, Sunilkumar said.
The state has asked Centre to include rubber products in the ‘Make in India’ programme and also plans to use rubber bitumen for road construction to boost rubber demand, he said.
Kerala Congress (M) leader and former Finance Minister K M Mani, who sought leave for the motion, alleged that the price stabilisation fund introduced to ensure a minimum of Rs 150 per kg of rubber during the previous UDF rule has become defunct and rubber farmers were in bad condition.
Mani suggested that Vijayan should lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the problems faced by farmers in the state.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala blamed both the state and Centre for the crisis faced by rubber growers.
In protest against the alleged negative attitude of state and Centre towards the plight of farmers in the state, UDF members staged a walkout.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:m.dailyhunt.in)
