Staff Reporter
Of the 29 Samathuvapurams planned this year, 16 completed so far
Tuticorin: The erstwhile AIADMK government dumped all developmental projects during its tenure and all welfare schemes were kept in abeyance, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said here on Thursday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Thanthai Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram at Ramanoothu, Pudur in Tuticorin.
The DMK government led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi implemented a lot of welfare measures for the people.
It was planned to set up 29 Samathuvapurams in 2008-09. Sixteen projects including the one in Tuticorin had been completed so far and the remaining 13 projects would be completed by December-end.
Earlier, Mr. Stalin inaugurated several infrastructure facilities in the presence of Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan, Minister for Highways and Minor Ports. They included a 48-km stretch of East Coast Road, Railway bridge, the 500-bed in-patient block at Government Medical College Hospital, distribution of financial assistances to women self-help groups, foundation stone laying of various developmental projects and other benefits to the tune of Rs. 209.24 crore.
As many as 1,125 women self-help groups received a sum of Rs. 727.80 lakh as assistance.
Mr. Stalin went around an exhibition of products manufactured by the women SHGs and interacted with them. Minister for Social Welfare, P. Geetha Jeevan, S.R. Jayadurai, MP, Collector G. Prakash, and others spoke.
Railway bridge inaugurated
Mr. Stalin also inaugurated a railway over-bridge at the third level crossing, which was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 17 crore.
The new facility is a big bonanza for the people of Tuticorin.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who gave away a series of welfare assistances to beneficiaries, inaugurated the bridge in the presence of Minister for Highways and Minor Ports, M.P. Saminathan along with Minister for Social Welfare, P. Geetha Jeevan.
Petition on land acquisition
K. Kanagaraj, district secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), handed over a petition seeking various demands for the welfare of people to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin here on Thursday.
After handing over the petition, Mr. Kanagaraj told reporters that a large tract of cultivable lands owned by Dalits from eight villages in Ottapidaram in the district was likely to be acquired by the State government to set up industries on the SIPCOT premises.
In Ottapidaram, almost 75 per cent of the people were Dalits, who depended on their land for livelihood. The government could acquire lands in Panchalakurichi panchayat limit instead, where it was available in plenty.
Hence the government should consider our demands, he added.
The government should also work out a strategy to take over the SPIC and reopen the unit in the interest of the workers.
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