Karthigai Deepa Kolam -3 || Tippudu Muggulu || Plight of Farmers

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"நீரின்றி அமையாது உலகு"

The above words are from the great poet Thiruvalluvar which translates to "NO WATER NO WORLD". Water being the basic source of life as it is indubitable that river banks were the cradle for the oldest civilisations. Later on, it's vitality was realised then the dams conceptualised for storing water during drought season.

When it is all about Water Management, the Chozha Dynasty Autarchs were pioneers. And who can deny the above, the Kallanai aka Grand Annicut in Trichy, built by the Karikaal Chozhan still stands majestically which is fully functional even after 2000 years.

The Food Bowl - The delta region of river Cauvery was under Chozhas, they had foreseen and spelled Dam for agriculture to thrive. The farmers should have been complacent then.

Now, the delta region farmers are at the verge of existence. Decades ago agriculture fetched prosperity, now yields only debt and tagged to toxic debts. The irrigational canals, tributaries need to be dredged periodically to avoid overflowing during monsoons but nothing has been done for years resulting in accumulation of alluvial deposit concomitant to monsoon rains flooding the rivers, irrigational canals and finally the fields.

Paddy is the main crop cultivated in Cauvery delta areas. The transplanted paddy saplings when submerged under water, the farmers are doomed as a streak chance of harvest is possible.

The Ponni Rice variety holds out in submerged water for three days while Ponmani/Idly rice endures for one week to get through. And if the time ticks away the above said duration then the total harvest goes in vain. This season the paddy has got it's overdosage of water and delta region is worst hit again.

I have seen the plight of farmers in person. With regular failed harvests, the farmers are either forced to leave the land barren or shift to another menial occupation. Ultimately farmlands are sold to create concrete forest and the irrigational canals are turned into sewage drains.

My heart goes to the farmers, as many were financially doing good before, led a happy life and now trying their best to survive.

Dot Count:1-5-7-9-11-13-11x2-9-7-5-1

2. The first strand connects the outer dots and forms a Swasthik pattern at the centre.

3. The second strand connects all the dots at the sides completing the design.