Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday rejected the charge by AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa that the people of Tamil Nadu faced innumerable problems during DMK rule and that the DMK government failed to take any steps to address their concerns.
In a statement here, Mr. Karunanidhi listed the many schemes announced by the DMK government, saying that the list was so long that it would not be possible for him to write about all of them. “I have explained the achievements of the government and expect a gesture of gratitude from the people who are enjoying the benefits,” he said.
As regards Ms. Jayalalithaa's allegation that the State government had failed to control the rise in the price of essential commodities, he said Re.1-a-kg rice scheme had benefited 1.85 crore families, while distribution of palmolein, toor dhal, black gram, fortified wheat flour, atta and other items had kept the price rise under the control. The DMK government, he said, had waived agriculture loans to the tune of Rs.7,000 crore and provided relief to over 22 lakh families.
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“The government also constituted welfare boards for 34 types of unorganised workers and distributed over two lakh acres of land to 1.79 lakh families, besides giving land pattas to over 8.29 lakh families,” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi said the government had made enormous contribution towards providing education and ensured that girl students from poor families were given free education up to postgraduate courses.
“We have cancelled the entrance examination for professional courses, opened six new medical colleges, 15 engineering colleges and 14 arts and science colleges,” he said, adding that separate reservation for Muslims and Arundathiyars had benefited the communities.
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