Traders 26th annual conference, Vellore

26th annual conference of the Anaithu Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai’s conference at Vellore, Tamil Nadu

On May 5th at Vellore, the historic town of Tamil Nadu where the first freedom struggle- the Shepoy Mutiny in 1806 broke out in front of the British Fort, the powerful trader organisation leader Mr.Vellaiyan, declared that the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai (Tamil Nadu Traders Association Federation) will fight against GM crops and will extend the support to all those who fight against the entry of MNCs in retail trade and farming.

The Peravai will continue to fight against the GM crops as this would put farmers to buy the company seeds every time." More than 60,000 traders and their family members from various part of the state had took part in this annual event of Vanigar Day Celebration and Annual Conference.

Having leaders of Trader Organisations from various part of the Country and the All India Traders Federation President in the dias Mr.Vellaiyan said that "all should put up a united fight against MNCs entry in farming and retail trade. The government is trying to impose on us the untested Bt Brinjal, Corn, Rice, Tomato, etc... ", The farmers will be forced to buy the seeds from the company and will be made dependable every time they go for sowing while practicing farming with GM seeds. This situation will lead to destroy the farming and farmers life. That's why we launched the agitation in front of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU, Coimbatore) and got arrested. “If farming is lost then retail trade in the small towns will also end, putting thousands and thousands of small traders in soup" he added. The influence of America is increasing in farming. Our governments simply follow their wish to loose our independency on farming.

Peravai released the election charter with demands. Some of them are

• Encourage Organic farming through the state.
• Ban GM crops and its research.
• No SEZ in farm lands.
• School uniforms should be in hand loom cloths.
• Recognisation to Tamil Eelam.

At the end the conference peravai honored the traders who got arrested at coimbate on 2^nd April 2009 for protesting in front of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) against Monsanto’s GM corn field trail. Also honored those acted as volunteers during the inauguration of Safe Food Alliance at Chennai, Marina Beach on 31st mid night.

A poster on hazards of GM food was released during the conference, aiming that the poster will be placed in every shop through out the state.