Though there is a long way to go for Assembly elections, the AIADMK has plunged into campaign mode in Thanjavur. It seems that it has gone a bit too far. Over enthusiastic AIADMK leaders have used parapet walls of road over bridges and rail over bridges on the NH 67 to write the government’s “achievements.” The NHAI properties in Thanjavur and its outskirts have been prominently painted bright to showcase various achievements of the State Government from Amma cement to Amma drinking water. The walls of RoBs figure bright and radiant advertisements of the ruling party. Squeezed in between them is an advertisement proclaiming construction of a new bridge across Grand Anicut Canal near Budalur at “Rs. … crore” leaving the cost empty. It is not at one place but in several similar places the particular project does not carry the cost. Besides, it would be amusing to know whether the AIADMK wings have secured the due permission from the NHAI for advertising on their property.
There has been a growing awareness of the importance of possessing a house site patta these days in contrast to the situation that had prevailed decades ago. A case in point is the special endeavour taken by the Karaikal district administration for redressing the grievance of Adi Dravidar residents of Tiruvettakudi near Karaikal. Though they were allotted house site pattas in 1972, none of them possessed any authentic patta record. Lack of awareness of the importance of this document has been causing them various inconvenience particularly while applying for bank loans or while mortgaging the property. “A special action was initiated for issuing copy of pattas following frequent petitions received from the residents,” says E. Vallavan, Collector. Many have lost their pattas. Fresh pattas effecting name transfer in favour of the spouses have been issued. “We enquired before issuing copy of the patta or effecting name transfer in patta records,” he said. In the first phase, 19 pattas had been issued and others would be issued in a phased manner, he adds.
For the prisoners lodged in the Tiruchi Central Prison, the Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations turned out to be joyful and lively.
The day was marked by a slew of events organised by Prison Department inside the sprawling jail accommodating over 1,000 inmates.
Messages underscoring national unity and communal harmony were put forth by guests to the inmates at the event during which prizes were distributed to those prisoners who secured the first three places in a host of sports competitions conducted earlier.
This was followed by a ‘patti mandram’ and a fancy dress programme for the prisoners.
A dance programme was organised on behalf of the Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts in the evening with the day-long celebrations keeping the inmates joyful.
L. Renganathan,
M. Balaganessin
and R. Rajaram
