The Hindu : Front Page : Children with heart ailments to get financial assistance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Front Page

Children with heart ailments to get financial assistance

Special Correspondent

Government to introduce 3,000 more buses, 50 new farmers’ markets

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

TAKING THE SALUTE: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi inspecting the guard of honour on the occasion of Independence Day at Fort St. George in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi listed jobs for 1.8 lakh youths, distribution of over 1.1 lakh acres of land to farm workers, the three-eggs-a-week noon meal scheme, the free television and gas stove scheme and new industrial projects with huge job opportunities as major achievements of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government.

Delivering the Independence Day address from the ramparts of Fort St. George here on Wednesday, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Government had decided to extend financial assistance to children suffering from heart ailments. There would be three categories of State aid — Rs. 10,000, Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 70,000.

Referring to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi’s remark that Tamil Nadu was pioneer in many ways, the Chief Minister sought support from everybody for the success of various welfare schemes of the Government.

He announced that the Government would introduce 3,000 more new buses this year, in addition to the 2,327 buses that had already been inducted into the fleet of Transport Corporations. Fifty new farmers markets’ would be established in a month or two, he said, adding that they would be in addition to the existing 103 markets.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that to ensure each district in Tamil Nadu had a Government medical college, the colleges were started in Villupuram, Tiruvarur and Dharmapuri.

The old age pension amount had been increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 400 a month, he pointed out, adding that the monthly financial assistance to 3.39 lakh unemployed youths, regularisation of 1.51 lakh unapproved housing plots in urban areas, issue of patta to 61,211 families living on poromboke lands for over 10 years and waiver of cooperative loans were the other achievements of his Government.

Under the Anna Marumalarchi Scheme, Rs. 20 lakh each was allocated to 5,075 panchayats in the State, he said, adding that the Rs. 1,015-crore scheme would meet the basic requirements such as road, water, public health and electricity.

Similarly, each of the 561 panchayat unions in the State was granted Rs. 50 lakh to take up infrastructure projects, he said.

During the past 15 months the State attracted 11 new industrial projects involving an investment of Rs. 11,083 crore, Mr. Karunanidhi said, adding that they would provide jobs to 1.25 lakh youths.

Awards presented

The Chief Minister presented awards to individuals and organisations, who had made significant contributions to the welfare of the disabled, women and society.

While G. Chidambaranathan and D.V. Saraswathi received the Best Social Worker awards for the disabled and women respectively, S. Sundar was the recipient of the Best Doctor award. The Best District Rehabilitation Officer for the Disabled award went to K. Jasmine while the Best Private Employer award was received by V. Thirunavukkarasu of Universal Moulds and Components. The Best Institution for the Welfare of the Disabled went to Dr. G.D. Boaz Memorial Hospital School, whereas the Best Institution for the Welfare of Women award was bagged by T.V.M. Seva Palam of Tiruvotriyur.

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