Cashew entrepreneurs in Kerala fast on Onam over demands

Around 100 Cashew entrepreneurs and their family members observed fast on Onam day, in front of the secretariat here in support of their demands including stopping recovery measures by the Kerala government against them.

KPCC President, M M Hassan, who inaugurated the strike yesterday,promised all support to the Joint Protest Council, which organised the protest, until a viable solution was found in order to save the industry, a release from the council said.

Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi, also visited the protesters and explained the steps he had taken in 2016 in order revive it by implementing the concept of a Cashew Board from the Centre.

The council has demanded among other things stopping all recovery proceedings initiated by the banks and recovery measures by the state government against the cashew entrepreneurs with immediate effect.

Based on the decisions taken by the Chief Minister, RBI and all the banks involved, the entrepreneurs, whose Accounts fell into the category of NPA, had submitted revival plans to their respective banks prior to March 31.

But so far the banks have not agreed to that, the council said and appealed to the Chief Minister to persuade the banks to implementthe same.

They also wanted revival of the 100 year-old traditional industry and wanted the state government to support them, the the release said.