All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa was on Monday sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Hours after she assumed office, Ms. Jayalalithaa went to Fort St. George, which has again become the seat of power, and gave her formal approval to seven proposals that included provision of 20 kg rice free of cost for those entitled to it under the Public Distribution System. Beneficiaries of the Antodaya Anna Yojana Scheme (for the poorest of the poor) will get 35 kg rice free of cost.
Other approvals given by her included distribution of four gram gold for making thali (mangalsutra) free, along with marriage assistance of Rs. 50,000 (which was earlier Rs. 25,000) to women with graduate degrees or diplomas; increase in the monthly assistance from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and destitute women; hike in the assistance from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 for fisherfolk during the 45-day ban on fishing; and a six-month-long maternity leave for government women employees. Under another marriage assistance scheme, four gram gold for making thali (mangalsutra) would be given free coupled with Rs. 25,000 to educated poor women.
A Special Programme Implementation Department was established. After affixing her signature on the files, the Chief Minister told journalists she had cleared the proposals as part of fulfilling the electoral promises of her party.
Earlier, at a glittering function at a packed Madras University Centenary Auditorium here, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala administered the oath of office and allegiance and secrecy to Ms. Jayalalithaa and 33 Ministers. The entire Cabinet took the oath in the name of God.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi; the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu; Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan; Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh; and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder Vijayakant were among those who attended the function.
When Ms. Jayalalithaa resumed her seat after signing the copies of oaths and greeting the Governor, a section of the audience raised slogans such as Thanga Thalaivi Vaazhga, Puratchi Thalaivi Vaazhga.
After all the Ministers were sworn in, Ms. Jayalalithaa saw the Governor off. She came down from the dais and greeted the invitees.
Mr. Modi was the first to present her a shawl followed by Mr. Naidu and Mr. Vijayakant.
Ms. Jayalalithaa later told journalists that she would meet the press once a week.
Keywords: Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, Jayalalithaa, AIADMK, swearing-in
The Chief Minister has started her third term on a very positive note. But the Bus fare revision effected over night after completion of the Local body elections is not fair; The 6140 Cr. loss has accumulated over the years which cannot be and should not nullified by a single stroke. The reasons for such huge loss be foundand guilty be punished.
While private bus owners add new one every alternative year, what the learned experienced MDs of Trans. Corps. were doing during all these years? The name and fame of the CM has met a set back due to bus fare rise Though there is no any election on the dawn, it is not fair to stubbornly refusing to reduce and revise the fare to a reasonable level is not justified
Hearty welcome to chief minister.I requested Our Tamil nadu chief minister to take several steps to develop tamil nadu by creating several educational institutions and providing opportunities for research,by changing educational systems at school level.Moreover,maintain the environment safe and clean by planting millions of trees particularly in chennai city, make the city free from pollution,eradicating the bribe,must to put a standard road inside the city.
iam very happy with another 5 years because iam get a freedom to fight in life
Completely agree with Krishna on this. The habit of giving Freebies is becoming notorious day by day. Earlier it was just free Rice, Lentils etc; now it has reached epic proportions- TV, Washing Machine and the like - obvious improvement with times !!I see two major issues with this approach: 1. I feel these freebies amount to bribes - just that it is on the wall. It is setting the wrong expectations to the public on what is right and wrong.. 2. And for God Sakes, it is Tax Payer's money. I wonder how the politicians get the right to spend Tax Payer's money like this? There are 1000's of areas where improvement is required - basic needs - Water, Electricity, Unemployment, Roads etc. Use the money to fix them, TN will be a wonderful place. Interestingly, no one seems to raise voice against this !! I really appreciate the 'The Hindu' for providing this new website feature where you can comment upon - it opens a channel for people to discuss and I am sure one day it will become a tool for much public debates.
The change in government was a much needed and much awaited change. Any party that remains in power for a long stretch results in maladministration, corruption and oligarchy, as evidenced by the recent DMK rule. Corruption at national and state levels had reached to unprecedented levels and the 2G scam was likely to affect the DMK rule. In the recent election victory, the people of Tamilnadu have provided Ms. Jayalalitha with another great opportunity to create an efficient, public welfare oriented and corruption free government. The people of Tamilnadu have placed great faith and trust in her and I hope she lives up to their expectations instead of establishing another like rule which the people rose against. Or else, this might end up as the last time the people chose her to power.
Stop giving freebies. I really don't understand why the government must spend money giving away 4g of gold, 50,000 rupees to meet marriage expenses, free laptops, mixers, grinders, etc. Government must invest money in generating electricity, increase agriculture production, create more job opportunities, bring in more investors who have improve the state's economy, enhance the education system etc... What the government is doing now is to promote its political outfit at the cost of government money. Where did the election commission go? Are they sleeping? Put an end to this irresponsibe expenditure. Create a strong state and responsible citizens. Whoever it is Jayalalitha, Karunanidh or others, This is not going to last for long and remember you are forcing Tamilnadu citizens to become beggars by doing this. I am sure, this state has already reeling under debt and day is not far off for Tamilnadu to go begging the central government and other states for money.
freebies should be stopped and more attention should be given in proper governance.Jaya will bring no change for sure...aiadmk is same as dmk.
She aslo started the freebies culture! bad luck tamils.
I wish that all these kind of freebies should be stopped in a phased manner. All educated youths should be provided a job, if that is done then they will not look for these kind of freebies. The new government should give more importance to Power, Transportation, Health Care, Drinking Water, Clean Air, Safe place to live, these are things that people expect from an government. All the educated youths should get their jobs within 50 kms from their home town, this will indirectly reduce the transportation expenses. The most important issue that needs the government attention is Agriculture, in order to sustain the agriculture the government should take immediate corrective steps. Converting of agriculture lands to Engineering colleges should be immediately stopped as it is an useless exercise.Hope this government will look into this.
Hope she keeps her promise. Don't forget that when she was chief minister last time many people lost their family homes by forcing them to sell their properities for very low price, hope she doesn't repeat those again. Also she should respect every one by not thinking that she knows everything. Election commission should ban the Freebies as it paves the way for corruption . We always think that other side is better and green but only time can answer.
Ms. Jayalalithaa has started her third term on a very positive note. The fact that she has decided not to occupy the new assembly building is not convincing. She has to consider that, more than Rs. 900 crores, which also includes the tax payers money cannot be wasted to satisfy anybody's ego. The building should not be neglected and should be effectively utilised to accommodate the ministries as intended. She needs to recollect looking for an alternate site, to build a new assembly complex.
It is a puzzle. This lady says that the finances of the State are in such poor condition and they need to be brought back to health. But divergently immediately on assuming power she goes on to distribute more freebies to the public. The Media and public who were criticizing the DMK when they were doling out freebies suddenly are praising this move of Jayalalitha. They cannot be any more partial. She also says that she will be reviewing every scheme of the DMK Government and that means development projects will face the axe. People will face the music soon.
The Vijaya of Jaya should open our eyes--to realities of political life. The sole /entire purpose of National living is to conduct elections. Losing parties function to win next election by negating all that Government wants to do. No patriotic fervour, national ideals are seen in the functioning of the Governments of the day or political parties, or politicians in the country.They talk of people to exploit people. Are the best conducted elections really free in the sense of real SPIRIT of Democracy ? Which Election is NOT VITIATED BY CASTE, RELIGION, GROUPISM--What a fall my country men from the ideals of Bharat which we have divided for immediate goal of power !
Good Beginning. All the best for good governance. Have a look at the fiscal condition of the state before major financial decisions.Incur debt only for development and not freebies.
At last the Much awaited change in the Tamil Nadu Politics has come to the Tamil Nadu people.Her first Priority to restore law and order ,was clear in her first official order of transferring the top cop to other department.She has assured to the People that they can wipe out their tears,which they had in the past and promised a bright future.I am confident ,she will deliver her promises as she understood the pulse of the people.A neat administration required at this hour.
Things are not over with fulfilling a few promises. Educated youth who are longing for jobs should be provided with jobs, prices of essential commodities should be brought down and kept under constant monitoring, corruption should be eliminated, above all the government should be made people friendly.
The practice of giving freebies adopted by the political parties in Tamil Nadu will bankrupt the state and needs to be stopped. What people need is good governance not freebies.
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