Freedom-fighters' pension, family pension to be hiked

The pension and family pension for freedom fighters will be enhanced from September 1, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced on Saturday.

Delivering the Independence Day address, for the 13th time from the ramparts of Fort St. George, the Chief Minister, who earlier hoisted the national flag, said the pension of freedom fighters would go up from Rs. 4,000 a month to Rs. 5,000. The family pension would be increased to Rs. 2,500 a month from Rs. 2,000.

Making the announcement on the occasion of the centenary celebration of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and former Home Minister P. Kakkan, Mr. Karunanidhi recalled that with effect from May 2007, the government had hiked the freedom fighter pension and the family pension from Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 1,500, which were prevailing since August 15, 1997, to Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 2,000.

Giving an exhaustive account of various development projects and welfare schemes of the government, the Chief Minister said, “After 2006, without resorting to new taxes but extending several tax concessions, we have implemented several novel schemes, which no other State in India has attempted so far. With such new schemes, this government is striving for the inclusive development of the people of Tamil Nadu in political, social and economic spheres.”

He called upon the people of the State to carry on the task of ensuring that Tamil Nadu would occupy the top position in all respects by registering a sustained growth in social, scientific and economic fronts.

Kalpana Chawla Award

Mr. Karunanidhi gave away the Kalpana Chawla Award for courage and daring enterprise to N. Rajamaheshwari, head of Uro-gynaecology department, Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children, A. Pushpanchali, mother of A.P. Hithendran who was declared brain dead last year and whose organs were donated by her, and R. Rajalakshmi of Usilampatti in Madurai district for excellence in sports for polio-afflicted persons.

The Chief Minister distributed awards for exemplary service for the welfare of the physically challenged to S. Manoharan of Kancheepuram district (in the category of best District Rehabilitation Officer for persons with disability), T. Jayakumar of K.K. Nagar, Chennai (best doctor), Pandi of Organisation for Rehabilitation of the Blind (ORBIT), Tiruchi, (best private employer), A.D.S.N. Prasad of “Pathway,” Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai (best institution — disabled welfare), R. Larencce of Ashok Nagar, Chennai (best social worker — disabled welfare), Sethukumari of Pazhavanthangal near Chennai (best social worker – women welfare) and Sankarraman of Amar Seva Sangam, Ayikudi, Tirunelveli district (best institution – women welfare).