The Hindu : MLAs want Pondy declared drought-hit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

MLAs want Pondy declared drought-hit

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 7. Legislators cutting across party lines today made a strong appeal that Pondicherry be declared drought-hit.

The former Local Administration Minister, Theni C. Jayakumar (TMC), made out a case during question time in the Assembly that the government should declare that Pondicherry is also a drought-hit region and all relevant measures launched to relieve farmers of their sufferings. Already, Karaikal was declared a drought-hit pocket.Why should Pondicherry be discriminated against, he asked, adding the impact of failure of monsoon and depletion of sub-soil water had been felt severely in Pondicherry also.

The Government Whip, P. Rajavelu, representing the agriculturally predominant segment of Bahoor, said the administration should announce Pondicherry also a drought-hit region. The Opposition leader, R. V. Janakiraman (DMK), said drought symptoms were perceptible in Pondicherry and hence there should be no delay in bringing the region under the drought-hit classification. A. M. Krishnamoorthy (BJP) also wanted an announcement without delay.

The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, said that compared to Karaikal, the yield in Pondicherry was not bad. However, there were certain norms on the basis of which the decision on drought situation was normally taken. Mr. Jayakumar said the Administration should have a close look at the extent of land under coverage and the yield of crop in Pondicherry and a comparative analysis over the last three years could also be made to ascertain that there was drought in Pondicherry also.

Be punctual, staff told

The Chief Minister asserted during the question time in the House that the government staff should be punctual in their arrival at the offices and recalled how he himself detected on a visit to one of the departments last month the habit of late arrival by staff.

A. Anbalagan (AIADMK), who piloted the main question on the need to observe punctuality by employees, insisted there should be close monitoring of the punctuality maintained by staff through the Administrative Reforms wing of the Administration. There were instances of employees coming more than one and half hours late. Punishment should be imposed on late comers. What follow-up measure was taken after the Chief Minister himself confirmed the late coming of the staff in the department he had visited?

The Chief Minister said warning had been issued to some 45 staff through the department head and the administration would not brook late arrival of staff.

The Education Minister, K. Lakshminarayanan, told Mr.Anbalagan, the DMK members S. P. Sivakumar and M. A. S. Subramanian, and the Independent member, T. Jayamoorthy, during question time that the department of Education would start kindergarten sections in 180 government schools from the new academic year.

Mr. Jayakumar said mere opening of the sections would not be enough. Trained teachers should be posted to handle classes, as handling of LKG and UKG classes called for special proficiency.

Mr. Subramanian said if the government opened kindergarten sections, parents belonging to poorer groups and middle income level would have their wards admitted to the classes, avoiding the necessity to rely on private schools.

Mr. Anbalagan said he himself suffered insult at the hands of a private school head when he sought a seat in LKG for a child. If the government opened kindergarten sections, such demeaning experiences could be avoided.

The Local administration Minister, A. Elumalai, said an electric crematorium would start functioning soon at Karuvadikuppam. Raising the issue, Mr. Krishnamoorthy said already a building involving an expenditure of Rs 18 lakhs had been got ready on the creamation ground for the facility. But the necessary equipment was yet to be installed.

The Minister said tenders were called for and the machine would be installed soon.

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MLAs want Pondy declared drought-hit

No opposition to their demands