The government will take necessary steps to hold civic body elections in the Union Territory after clearing legal hurdles, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said the government was trying to remove the legal hurdles in the wake of a petition filed in the court regarding reservation to backward caste community in the local body polls.
At the meet, he announced the decision of the government to disburse old-age pension at the doorsteps of beneficiaries through banking correspondents.
The Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank had started disbursing the pension to its customers as a pilot project.
The government expected other banks to adopt the same form of pension distribution by June, he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said the Union Territory would be the first in the country to provide pension at the doorsteps of beneficiaries.
The switch over to the new method would avoid pilferage by people accompanying the elderly to banks and post offices to help them obtain the amount. It would also lessen their hardship, he added.
On the helmet issue, the Chief Minister said a committee would submit its report within a week. He parried a question on whether police would impose fine on violators till the committee submitted its report.
The government had received complaints about harassment of migrants from Karaikal working in Gulf countries. The issue would be taken up with Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, he said.
The Ministry had convened a meeting of Chief Ministers on May 8 to discuss issues faced by overseas workers, he said.
Budget session
The budget session of the Legislative Assembly would commence on May 16 with the customary address of the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister said.
Besides presentation of the annual budget, the session would see the passing of State Goods and Services Tax law.
The Business Advisory Council would meet and decide on the agenda and the days the Assembly would be in session. The government expected the session to last for 20 days, he added.
