Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday affirmed that her government was committed to bringing about inclusive growth and was adopting a two-pronged strategy to eradicate poverty and improve the standard of living of the people.
“Infrastructure development and setting up big industries alone are not enough for economic growth. This is not the right kind of economic growth. I believe that economic growth should include the uplift of the poor,” she said addressing a government function at Srirangam, from where she was elected to the Assembly.
In an attempt to ensure complete food security for the people, the government has decided to supply rice free of cost through the public distribution system. Through this, food security has almost become a right of the people of the State, she said.
The previous government's schemes were flawed at the planning stage and hence did not benefit the people, but only a few. But the AIADMK government schemes were meant for the people. Even while extending various concessions and benefits to poor, the government was also focussing on implementing schemes to improve their standard of life and purchasing power, she said citing the schemes launched by her government such as the increase in the marriage assistance for women, along with four grams of free gold, increase in the monthly assistance given to the old, widows, destitute and differently-abled persons.
About nine lakh school and college students would be given free laptops this year. The free mixie, fan and grinder scheme would be launched on Anna's birthday on September 15. The government will build green houses for the rural poor and implement a new housing scheme for the urban poor.
The Chief Minister said she has also taken up the task of streamlining the administration, which “had been completely left in disarray” by the previous DMK regime. “I was shocked and putting the administration back on track by itself has proved to be a big challenge, she observed.
Expressing gratitude to the people of Srirangam for returning her from the constituency and helping her to become Chief Minister for the third time, Ms.Jayalalithaa said the voters in the State have defeated money power in election and proved their real strength.
“You have proved that you cannot be purchased and have helped usher in democracy,” she told the voters.
Ms.Jayalalithaa announced and laid the foundation stones for a slew of schemes for the Srirangam constituency, totally worth about Rs.190 crore. Prominent among them was the construction a yatri nivas (lodging house for devotees) in Srirangam at a cost of Rs.36.40 crore. This would be a modern lodging house with dormitories and family rooms to accommodate about 1000 devotees. This would benefit devotees visiting Thiruvanaikovil and Samayapuram temples also, she said.
Ms.Jayalalithaa also announced the construction of check dam across the Cauvery near Mutharasanallur at a cost of Rs.32 crore to harness and store the surplus waters so that the ground water table and the drinking water sources on the river bed was protected.
A horticulture college and research institute, exclusive for women, would be established at Navalarkuttapattu in the constituency at a cost of Rs.40 crore, she said.
