Tamil Nadu is in the forefront in implementing development programmes and welfare schemes in the country, Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin said here on Thursday.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government has been fulfilling all its election promises gradually, and the recently launched Kalaignar Insurance Scheme for Life Saving Treatments was a feather in the cap of Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, he said.
The Kalaignar Housing Scheme, a scheme that aims to build 21 lakh permanent houses for the poor, will be launched by the Chief Minister at Tiruchi on March 3, Mr. Stalin said speaking at a function to mark the inauguration of a Samathuvapuram and other development works at Thelur village.
Referring to the success of the self-help group movement in the State, Mr.Stalin said there were about 4.24 lakh Self Help Groups (SHG) in Tamil Nadu now. During the previous AIADMK rule, SHGs in the State were advanced only Rs.1,644 crores as credit in five years. But during the past three and a half years under the present regime, SHGs have been advanced loans to the tune of Rs.5,213 crores. Similarly, during the previous government only Rs.76 crores was given as revolving funds to SHGs. Under the present government, Rs.215 crores has been given, he said.
Mr.Stalin, who laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new bridge across the Coleroon river between Neelathanallur and Madanathur, said the bridge sanctioned at a cost of Rs.35 crores would meet the long felt need of the people of Ariyalur and Thanjavur. The Coleroon Combined Drinking Water Scheme, which was commissioned today, would meet the requirements of 525 habitations of Ariyalur and Perambalur districts. The scheme was implemented at a cost of Rs.44.12 crores.
He also laid the foundation stone for the building for the Anna University Engineering College at Ariyalur and handed over a cheque for Rs.4 crores donated by Appollo Medical and Research Foundation, Ramco Cements and other industries to N.Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, Anna University, Tiruchi.
Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology A.Raja announced that 3-G services would be launched in Perambalur and Ariyalur next month.
Collector T.Abraham, said about 1.73 lakh persons have been enrolled under the Kalaignar Health Insurance Scheme in the district so far, accounting for 97 per cent coverage of the eligible population. A 25 hectare site has been identified for a SIDCO industrial complex in the district. If this industrial complex and the Jayamkondan Lignite Power Project were expedited, it would help the industrialisation of the backward district, he said.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D.Napoleon, Forest Minister N. Selvaraj, MLAs S. S. Shivashankar, D. Amaramurthi and Ravikumar, District Panchayat Chairperson Kodiyarasi Duraisamy and others spoke.
Mr. Stalin distributed revolving funds and credit to the tune of Rs.14.21 crores to about 1,600 SHGs on the occasion.
