The Hindu : Free cycles of poor quality distributed: Vaithilingam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Free cycles of poor quality distributed: Vaithilingam

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 17. The former chief minister, V. Vaithilingam (Congress), today said the cycles distributed by the Government to poor students through the Department of Social Welfare were not up to the mark.

Participating in a debate on demands pertaining to the Industries and Social Welfare in the Assembly, Mr. Vaithilingam said he could not believe his eyes when he had a close look at the cycles. The virtually rusted cycles with deflated tyres were being distributed, he said and wanted the administration to ascertain whether they were really up to the mark.

Another Congress MLA, R. Nalamaharajan, said the quality of the cycles was left much to be desired, although they bore the brand of a leading company.

Mr. Vaithilingam said it was necessary that the government-owned AFT mill should be given sustained care and attention. There should be close monitoring of the working of the mill. The department concerned should not blindly purchase the products from the mill, as prices quoted were higher than what one would get in other mills.

He was all praise for the efforts of the Chief Minister for a Special Economic Zone. But would it be possible for the government to go in for a 1000-acre site for the project. The present cost of land was too exorbitant and hence there should be proper planning.

He said a Minorities Commission should be set up to identify genuine minorities here. Unless this was done there would be a haphazard identification and those from other States would creep into Pondicherry under the garb of minorities. Neela Gangadharan (Congress) wanted a separate department for welfare of the Backward Classes. The special component plan meant for the Adi Dravidars should be properly implemented.

Malladi Krishna Rao (Ind) said the Administration should allocate sufficient funds for construction of hostels for the SC students in Yanam. He welcomed the decision to cover students of standards IX and XII under free footwear scheme. He wanted 33 per cent reservation for women in educational institutions and in government jobs. The pension to the old people and widows should be raised. He expressed concern over sudden disappearance of industries, which had borrowed heftily from corporations and other institutions like PIPDIC. Crores of rupees were due from industrialists. P. Rajavelu (Congress) feared that excessive drawal of water would hit the availability of potable water for villages.

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