The functioning of Madurai Corporation was ruined by maladministration by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the last 15 years, the Minister for Cooperation , Sellur K. Raju, said.
Commencing the distribution of pensionary benefits to the tune of Rs.2.56 crore to 271 retired employees of the Corporation here on Saturday, he said the administrators could not complete various projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. He said the Union Minister, M.K. Azhagiri, failed to question the follies of the Corporation administrators.
The DMK had involved in mere publicity campaign rather than serving the people, he said.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader in the council, P. Salaimuthu, complained that the officials were able to generate Rs.22 crore in four months when the model code of conduct in connection with Assembly election was in force.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA, R. Annadurai, appreciated the Corporation officials' efforts to distribute such a huge sum of pensionary benefits. “Some of them had committed suicide due to poverty as the benefits did not reach them on time,” he alleged.
AIADMK MLA, M. Muthuramalingam (Tirumangalam) said the Ring Road was full of potholes that led to frequent accidents. Party MLA (Madurai North), A.K. Bose, said that party MLAs would give Rs. 2 crore MLA Constitutency Development Fund for the benefit of the local body.
The Corporation Commissioner, S. Natarajan, said that the efforts to transfer the Provident Fund of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the Corporation schools to their accounts were taken now 20 years after they became Government employees.
Among the 271 pensioners were medical officer, administrative officer, junior assistants, bill collectors and sanitary workers. Disbursement of benefits had been pending since as early as 2006, he said.
The Minister also distributed Rs. 38 lakh maternity assistance to 152 beneficiaries.
