Farmers who lost livestock and poultry birds in large numbers to attacks by wandering dogs in rural parts of Tiruppur district saw through the adoption of a resolution demanding compensation in the 24 Grama Sabha meetings conducted on Sunday as part of Republic Day celebrations.

At the Sivanmalai Panchayat in Kangayam Panchayat Union, affected farmers boycotted the Grama Sabha meeting as their demand for a discussion on the outcome of the resolution on the same subject adopted at the previous Grama Sabha meeting was not addressed.

The farmers had sought compensation based on market rates until the government took a policy decision to control the population of street dogs.

Farmers from villages in Kangayam, Uthukuli and other blocks, who had initially planned to take their livestock to the Tiruppur Collectorate on Saturday to remind the district administration of its promise to secure government compensation within 45 days, had decided to put their plan on hold after receiving fresh assurance from the Kangayam Tahsildar.

Responding to a petition submitted by the PAP Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association on Saturday, citing two recent instances of heavy losses caused to livestock farmers, the Kangayam Tahsildar had said in writing that the issue has been taken to the notice of the State Government and that an outcome was anticipated within 20 days. A number of goats and sheep belonging to Rathinasamy of Ramapattinam and Eashwaran of Thittampalayam were mauled to death by the dogs. The farmers have now decided to wait further after issuance of the assurance by the Tahsildar.

The loss for each farmer was assessed at ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh, P. Velusamy, president of PAP Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association, said.

“We will resume the struggle to compensate for the lost livestock and announcement of a policy decision to control population of street dogs after the deadline if our demand is not addressed,” Mr. Velusamy said.