The Hindu : Be alive to financial crunch, CM tells staff

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Be alive to financial crunch, CM tells staff

By L. Renganathan

The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, distributing welfare assistance at a function at Namakkal on Wednesday.

NAMAKKAL JULY 16. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today came down heavily on the attitude of government employees in asking for more and more, and reminded them that rights and duties went hand in hand.

Speaking at a government function here, she asked them to be aware of the financial crunch the State was going through. Reiterating that she inherited a crumbling economy, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that while 98 per cent of the population was enduring the pain of financial reconstruction, the government staff, constituting two per cent, could not be oblivious to the sufferings of others in asking for more and more.

Pointing out that the people voted in a new government with great expectations, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the government staff should understand their responsibility and work for the overall development of the State. "You have a lot more responsibility than others", she told them, adding they should never forget that.

The government priority was to deliver the goods to the general public, and not just look after a minuscule minority. Already the government staff were secure and the Government's duty was also to look after the not-so-secure others. No strike, like the recent one, was launched during her previous rule between 1991 and 1996. The finances were then comfortable and she could afford to look after their wellbeing. "We had extended them all benefits then because of a good fiscal position", she said. But the subsequent DMK regime drained the treasury, leaving the present administration with few options, said Ms. Jayalalithaa.

In an oblique reference to the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, Ms. Jayalalithaa said he was writing only lies, putting to shame even the legendary Goebbels. He had not learnt his lesson despite tasting several defeats, she said.

Scheming people could not dislodge this Government. Their effort would certainly go in vain, she asserted.

Ms. Jayalalithaa inaugurated several new projects, laid the foundation stone for new works and distributed welfare measures, all totalling Rs. 385.73 crores. These included initiation of work on a combined water supply scheme to benefit 1,399 rural habitations in Namakkal district.

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