Governor Surjit Singh Barnala on Friday conveyed his greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Pongal.
“May the festivals of Pongal, Sankranthi and Lohri – the culmination of winter – rekindle in us the spirit of oneness and unity and bring in peace, harmony and prosperity,” Mr. Barnala stated in his Pongal and Tamil New year message.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who had greeted the people a day earlier, on Friday came out with a fresh message on the occasion of the harvest festival to highlight the welfare measures of his government, especially for the benefit of farmers.
Beginning with waiver of farm loans from cooperative banks to the tune of Rs.7,000 crore and sanction of interest-free crop loans, the government had introduced steps such as extending the benefit of the Kalaignar Health Insurance scheme to those registered with the welfare board for agricultural workers, distribution of land for landless farm labourers and abolition of local cess, local cess, surcharge and water cess.
In addition, Mr. Karunanidhi said, the government raised procurement prices of rice and sugarcane and ordered grant of 2.50 lakh fresh electricity connections for irrigation pump sets and replacement of old pump set motors.
Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan, Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan and State BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan were among those who conveyed their Pongal greetings to people.
