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Honourable
Members of the Legislative Assembly,
It gives me great pleasure to address you
at the commencement of the first session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative
Assembly for the year 2004. I extend my greetings and good wishes to all
of you.
2. The people of India are to elect their representatives to
Parliament shortly. The elections to the Lok Sabha bring the people of
India together in electing a Government that will take them on the road to
development and prosperity. The people of India, Tamil Nadu in particular,
have always exercised tremendous political acumen and sagacity in
exercising their political franchise. They are going to get another
opportunity soon. I urge the people of Tamil Nadu to carry our rich and
vibrant democratic traditions forward and exercise their franchise in a
peaceful manner.
3. Tamil Nadu welcomed the New Year with renewed confidence and hope
of a glorious future ahead. The State has cast aside the inherited legacy
of poor growth prospects and a crippled fiscal situation. The year 2003
marks a spectacular turnaround. By successfully integrating reform
priorities with development imperatives and above all keeping the interests of the poor uppermost, Tamil Nadu has
indeed emerged as the State, which will forge ahead towards its cherished numero uno
position. The credit for this amazing and unparalleled turnaround in such a short span of time goes to the Hon’ble
Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa.
4. Hon’ble Members of this House may recall the extremely difficult
fiscal situation prevailing when this Government assumed office in May
2001, forcing this Government to scale down the Plan outlay to Rs. 5200
crores in 2001-2002. The future looked bleak, given the extent and gravity
of the fiscal crisis. Since then a bold economic reforms programme
implemented with resolve and courage by the Chief Minister has enabled the Government to increase the Plan size to Rs. 7000 crores in
2003-2004 and draw up an impressive Tenth Plan with an outlay of Rs. 40,000 crores. A comprehensive social safety net has been put in place
and strengthened despite the fiscal stress. Public utilities such as the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and the State Transport Undertakings have
been restored to financial viability. The problem of huge unpaid
liabilities inherited from the previous Government amounting to Rs. 4000
crores has been resolved. Tamil Nadu’s turnaround is nothing short of a
miracle.
5. The Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa has clearly set out the
economic reform priorities of the Government, which consist of fiscal
reforms to ensure fiscal correction and sustainability, reforms to improve
the investment climate, improvements to service delivery through good
governance and a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy. The State has successfully warded off the danger of a debilitating fiscal
crisis and at the same time taken up planned development. This complex
adjustment process in Tamil Nadu has a human face, keeping the interests
of the poor foremost in mind.
6. The World Bank, which had moved away from Tamil Nadu earlier, has
now evinced keen interest in assisting the State Government in putting
through its economic reforms programme. It is anticipated that funding support from the World Bank for this
programme will be made available over several years. This will be in
addition to project-based assistance. The World Bank has commended the new
initiatives of this Government in the primary sector and the
second-generation reforms announced in the New Industrial Policy in September 2003 to improve the investment climate. The World Bank has
recognized that Tamil Nadu is a forerunner in providing a comprehensive
social safety net, which is the brainchild of the Chief Minister.
7. This Government has had to contend with adverse seasonal conditions
over three successive years culminating in the unprecedented drought in
2002-2003 that affected all districts, in the midst of a major fiscal
crisis. This daunting challenge would have broken the spirit of any other
Government. It behoves to the credit of the Chief Minister that while carrying the fiscal adjustment process forward,
this Government ensured prompt response to every crisis situation with
alacrity and provided relief and succour by reaching out to the poor.
8. In 2002, when the
landless agricultural labourers in the Cauvery delta districts were
affected by lack of work following the refusal of Karnataka to release
Tamil Nadu's due share of water from the Cauvery, this Government provided
gift hampers to about 10-lakh households at a cost of Rs. 210 per hamper.
This was implemented at a cost of Rs. 21 crores. To ward off the prospect
of starvation, a special programme was implemented to provide 30-Kg of
rice free of cost to every needy rural family every month from February to
August 2003. This benefited 9.71 lakh families and was implemented at a
cost of Rs. 115.94 crores. When farm incomes were affected, the Government
launched a massive scheme for the waiver of interest and penal interest
dues of farmers from the co-operative sector at a cost of Rs. 146 crores.
The scheme of waiver of interest dues from small and marginal farmers on
loans availed of by them from Co-operative Banks announced by the
Government in May 2003 with an outlay of
Rs. 20 crores has provided immense relief to farmers during hard times.
When handloom weavers were affected because of the crisis in the economy,
this Government responded quickly to provide 20-Kg of free rice per month
to 22,072 handloom weavers at a cost of Rs. 1.19 crore. These are
instances of prompt intervention by this Government to provide relief and
support to the poor during hard times, notwithstanding the fiscal crisis
confronting it. This goes to show that this Government has been responsive
and caring, always concerned about the welfare of the people.
9.
The Chief Minister has been at the vanguard of social reforms aimed
at conferring real benefits on the poor. The ban on lotteries has been
widely welcomed. It is now perceived as an important measure which has
rescued the poor from the spectre of rack and ruin. Lakhs of poor people
who hitherto spent their entire income on buying lottery tickets inveigled
by the promise of an elusive bonanza and ended up in penury are now
thanking the Chief Minister for bringing happiness into their lives. The
ruination wrought by usurious moneylenders had reached alarming
proportions. This Government enacted amendments to control the exorbitant
interest rates and imposed stiff penalties for those deviating from the
law. This salutary legislation has brought comfort to rural households,
particularly when their incomes were affected by the drought. These
measures have enabled people to celebrate Deepavali and Pongal recently
with great cheer. Despite being affected by drought and adverse seasonal
conditions for three successive years, Tamil Nadu, unlike most other
States, has coped most successfully with the crises and has provided
relief and succour at every instance of need.
10. Thanks to the personal intervention of the Chief Minister, Indian
Missions abroad have been alerted to provide legal assistance to Tamils
languishing in prisons in Malaysia and Maldives.
Similarly, 380 fishermen and 47 mechanized boats taken into custody
by the Sri Lankan Navy have been released by the intervention of the Chief Minister.
11. The Twelfth Finance Commission has just concluded its visit to
Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister has highlighted the need for a complete
restructuring of public finances, giving the States their due share. The
Government has called for greater resource transfers to the States from
the Union by stepping up the Share of States in the Central tax pool from
the present level of 29.5% to 50%. The Chief Minister has insisted that
the Twelfth Finance Commission should undo the injustice meted out to
Tamil Nadu by the Eleventh Finance Commission. States like Tamil Nadu,
which perform well, should be rewarded for their efficiency and good
governance. Comprehensive proposals on various issues such as debt
reduction and restructuring, financing of local bodies and calamity relief
have also been made to the Commission. The Commission has been requested
to support the Government’s effort to modernize the administration and
in addressing the special problems of Tamil Nadu. It is hoped that the
recommendations of the Twelfth Finance Commission will be more in tune
with the needs and aspirations of the people of the State.
12. The Chief Minister has placed the highest emphasis on the perfect
maintenance of law and order as the bedrock of the development process.
Her strong leadership in Tamil Nadu has kept insidious and disruptive
forces at bay and provided the assurance for citizens to feel safe and
secure in Tamil Nadu. The connection between strong leadership, successful
policing, perfect maintenance of law and order resulting in a favourable
investment climate stands highlighted when we compare Tamil Nadu with
other States.
13.
This transformation of Tamil Nadu as a haven of peace and
tranquillity has been brought about by a comprehensive action plan
implemented by the Chief Minister. The series of measures initiated by the
Chief Minister to improve the efficiency of the Police by way of
modernization, improvement of Police logistics, including provision of new
buildings, new vehicles and the latest infomation and communications
technology equipment, housing infrastructure and training has enabled the
Tamil Nadu Police to become the best State Police Force in India.
Effective steps to correct a huge backlog in recruitment of Police
personnel have also been taken and in the current year, 8431 Grade II Men
Police Constables and 2306 Grade II Women Constables are being recruited.
14. The Chief Minister’s campaign towards gender sensitization and
control of crimes against women has been followed up with the
establishment of Mobile Counselling Centres in every district.
There will be 188 All Women Police Stations across the State before
the close of the financial year. The constitution of an exclusive All Women Commando Force and an All Women Police Battalion marks an
important milestone in the history of the Tamil Nadu Police. A new office complex for the Director General of
Police will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 crores in
2004-2005.
15. The Chief
Minister has taken pains to ensure that the morale of the Police Force is
at its peak through well-designed measures of not only providing them with
amenities and benefits, but also by directly addressing their grievances. The Chief Minister personally held five detailed sessions to hear the
grievances of officers and ranks of the Tamil Nadu Police. This has toned
up the morale of the Police Force and made it fully prepared to meet any
challenge. The grievance
redressal machinery for the Police personnel has now been completely
revamped and made more meaningful. Creches have been opened in 6 Police Commissionerates for the children of women Police personnel. The
Government has sanctioned the construction of 6000 houses for Police
personnel during 2001-2003 at a total cost of Rs. 241.61 crores.
16. This Government has sanctioned the construction of a new prison
complex with state-of-the-art facilities to house 3000 prisoners at Puzhal
at an estimated cost of Rs. 77.09 crores. An outlay of Rs. 19.07 crores
has been allotted for the scheme of modernization of prison administration
in 2003-2004. Sub-jails at Nagercoil and Dindigul are being upgraded as
district jails in this year. Video-conferencing system between prisons and
the courts at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.61 crores is also being
introduced.
17. The High Court Bench at Madurai constructed at a cost of Rs. 55.59
crores with state-of-the-art facilities will be opened on 13th
April, 2004. A total of 49 Fast Track Courts have been set up in Tamil
Nadu during 2001-2003. This has enabled a record disposal of nearly 65,000
cases. Construction of Integrated Court Complexes at Theni and
Srivilliputhur has also been sanctioned.
18. In the wake of the failure of the Monsoons in 2002 culminating in
an unprecedented drought, the Government implemented a massive relief
programme. Widely acclaimed, this has protected the people from want and
deprivation. Both the South-West and the North-East Monsoon in 2003 were
below the forecast, though a little better than the previous year. The
State Calamity Relief Fund has already been exhausted. A detailed
memorandum on the drought situation has been furnished to the Government
of India with a request to sanction Rs. 1584 crores of assistance from the
National Calamity Contingency Fund and 10.8 lakh MT of rice for the Food
for Work Programme. The Government is hopeful of substantial support from
the Government of India for various drought relief measures. Meanwhile,
the Government has sanctioned Rs. 50 crores to alleviate drinking water
scarcity problems in the affected districts.
19. The drought situation in Tamil Nadu has been further exacerbated by
Karnataka’s failure to release the State’s genuine entitlement of
Cauvery water. Mettur Dam has realized only 60.45 TMC ft of inflows up to the end of January 2004, as against the
Tribunal’s interim award of 193.59 TMC ft and even 89.771 TMC ft as per
the distress sharing formula evolved by the Central Water Commission.
Karnataka’s repeated failure to abide by the directives of
Constitutionally and legally authorized federal dispute settlement mechanisms like the Supreme Court, Cauvery River Authority and
the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is an unhealthy precedent. This Government will not relent in its efforts to take necessary action to
enable Tamil Nadu to ultimately realize its legitimate share from the
waters of the river Cauvery.
20. Chennai has been facing chronic water scarcity as a result of
failure of Monsoons both in 2002 and 2003. Consequently, the storage
levels in the city’s reservoirs are the lowest in the last 55 years of
recorded history. This Government has taken steps to find long-term
solutions. The Chennai Water Supply Augmentation Project-I (New Veeranam Project)
will be completed on schedule in May 2004 at a cost of Rs. 730 crores. The
Government proposes to establish desalination plants as the only durable
solution to Chennai’s chronic water shortages. The Chief Minister has
written to the Prime Minister for support from the National Calamity Contingency Fund for
Rs. 700 crores. The Union Government has already announced an initial
assistance of Rs. 50 crores. More assistance is expected after a Central
team makes an assessment. Lorry water supply has been stepped up to
provide requisite supplies to all areas. Steps are being taken to tap the
Araniar‑Koratalliyar ground water acquifers to provide water supply.
The Government is fully geared to meet the challenge.
21. In a major effort to conserve riverbeds and prevent their
degradation by indiscriminate sand quarrying, the Government has
successfully implemented exclusive sand quarrying by the Public Works
Department in an orderly manner. These operations will ensure preservation
of the environment, protection of our water sources and will also generate
more revenue for the Government.
22. The Chief Minister’s
15-point programme, which constitutes the development vision of the State,
seeks to secure equitable and all round development of Tamil Nadu. I am
happy to inform this August House that this Government will achieve in
full the Plan outlay of Rs. 7000 crores earmarked for the current
financial year. This Government will be approaching the Union Planning Commission for the
approval of an enhanced development Plan outlay of Rs. 8001 crores for 2004-2005. This represents a major step up over the
development Plan outlay for 2003-2004.
23. Crop diversification with water conservation incorporating new
technology has been the guiding principle in restructuring the farm
sector. Precision farming to promote these concepts is being launched in
the new Krishnagiri district and Dharmapuri district at a cost of Rs. 7.21
crores. The Government will promote crops like tapioca with precision
farming to bring better value addition with lower consumption of water.
24. This Government’s Comprehensive Wasteland Development Programme
is being widely hailed as a pioneering effort in reclaiming wasteland for
productive economic use. The achievements under this programme despite
recurrent drought have been very impressive. About 70 lakh saplings have
been planted and 1.19 lakh acres of wasteland have been brought under
productive economic use till December 2003.
25. The New Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, another visionary effort aimed
at encouraging development of rural agro-based industry, is making rapid
progress. A total of 695
projects covering 369 blocks have been cleared for implementation. As many
as 72 units have already commenced production.
26. The Government’s bold initiatives in restructuring the milk
co-operative sector in the State have infused new strength into this vital
industry. Arrears of payment to dairy farmers amounting to Rs. 34.91
crores have been cleared. Arrears of payment to sugarcane farmers by co-operative and public sector sugar mills totalling Rs. 123.74 crores
have been cleared by the intervention of this Government.
27. The welfare of the fishing community in Tamil Nadu has received
attention of very high priority of the Government. The Government has sanctioned the
construction of 11,389 houses for fishermen since May 2001 at a cost of Rs. 35.87 crores. Nearly 30,192 fisherwomen have been covered for the
first time under the Savings cum Relief Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 1.73 crores. The
Government is providing 10,000 life saving jackets to fishermen at a cost
of Rs. 1 crore to protect them when they are on the high seas.
28. The Chief Minister has launched the path-breaking Rain Water
Harvesting movement in Tamil Nadu. It is only in Tamil Nadu that all
buildings in every city, town and village have rainwater-harvesting
structures installed. This
has been possible because of the commitment of the Chief Minister to
putting through this programme mandatorily before the monsoon. In rural
areas, rainwater harvesting to recharge ground water is now a major
programme. This programme will be continued so that a water-starved State
like Tamil Nadu can conserve precious water.
29. I am happy to inform you that
Tamil Nadu stands first in utilizing funds under various Centrally
Sponsored Schemes for rural development during 2001-2003. The Government
of India has released additional funds to the State Government over and above the State’s annual allotment during
2001-2003 on account of efficient performance.
30. The Government is ensuring comprehensive
coverage under the Total Sanitation Campaign in 28 districts at a project
cost of Rs. 327.32 crores. The construction of 12,618 Integrated Sanitary
Complexes for women and children in all the Village Panchayats across the
State will be completed within this year at a total cost of Rs. 268.13
crores. The construction of 12,506 offices for Village Administrative
Officers across the State will also be completed within 2004 at a total
cost of Rs. 77.89 crores.
31. A major programme for upgradation, relaying and special repairs to
5850-Km of Panchayat and Panchayat Union roads that have not been
maintained by any agency, including those where buses cannot ply, is being
taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 300 crores. In addition, the
Government has also sanctioned Rs. 336.05 crores for improvements to
6492-Kms of Other District Roads, covering in particular, all bus routes.
This massive programme will provide lasting benefits to the people
and will be widely appreciated. The
plan to amalgamate the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations into 7
Corporations has been completed. Nearly 2500 buses will be replaced in two
phases. An amount of Rs. 30 crores has been allotted to carry out major
repairs to 6000 buses.
32. The Government has taken up
rural water supply projects with an outlay of Rs. 572.16 crores in 2003-2004. This
will enable nearly 6000 habitations to receive potable water supply by
March 2004. Nearly 10,000 hand pumps are also being converted into
mini-power pumps in the current financial year at a cost of Rs. 60 crores.
Five major Combined Water Supply Schemes covering 3912 rural habitations,
21 Town Panchayats and 5 municipalities are being implemented at a total
cost of Rs. 463.54 crores.
33. It is gratifying to note that the goal of Universalization of
Primary Education and attainment of 100% enrollment in schools is being
pursued with unrelenting vigour. During 2001-2003, this Government has
opened 1112 elementary schools, 1075 middle schools, 260 high and 300 higher secondary schools. The Government has recruited 10,022 teachers
in the last two years. An
unprecedented emphasis is being given to upgrading the quality of
educational infrastructure in the State with an outlay of Rs. 401.84
crores under the ‘Education for All’ Scheme.
As a result of these initiatives, the drop out rate among
elementary school students has come down from 16% in 2001-2002 to 12% in 2002-2003.
34. The Government has introduced a major cash incentive scheme for
honouring sportspersons from Tamil Nadu with impressive achievements at
national and international level sporting events. So far 123 sportspersons
have been given cash incentives amounting to Rs. 2.10 crores. The Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority has
introduced a battery of tests for broad-basing talent identification and
encouraging sports culture in schools. Over 50 sportspersons have so far been enrolled under the Champions’
Development Scheme for assistance in the form of sporting kits, quality
nutrition, psychological development and financial assistance. In the
coming financial year, a major step up will be made in the outlay for
sports development with a focus on infrastructure development, talent
identification and training. With a view to promoting excellence in the
entire spectrum of physical education and sports, this Government proposes
to establish a new University dedicated to fostering physical education
and sports in Tamil Nadu.
35. This Government’s accomplishments in providing affordable and
accessible health care facilities to the people are noteworthy. During 2001-2003, 746 health sub centres (HSCs) have been provided with new
buildings at a total cost of Rs. 39.75 crores. 93 Primary Health Centres
have also been upgraded to 30-bed hospitals at a total cost of Rs. 46.50
crores. This Government has increased the number of MBBS seats in five
Medical Colleges by 315. Construction work in the first phase for
providing necessary infrastructure to the five medical colleges has been
taken up at a cost of Rs. 10.01 crores. Construction of 300-bed hospitals
at New Government Medical Colleges in Vellore, Kanyakumari and Theni is
making rapid progress. The
approval of the Medical Council of India has been obtained for the medical
college at Kanyakumari. Chennai
has become the health capital of India. A new complex in the Government
General hospital at Chennai being constructed at an outlay of Rs. 104.47
crores will be opened shortly.
36. The new “Industrial Policy” announced in September 2003, aimed
at consolidating our strengths in the manufacturing sector and the roadmap
of second generation reforms at the State level, has been widely welcomed.
The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has reported that Tamil
Nadu has received the highest quantum of new investments in the manufacturing
sector totalling Rs. 46,795 crores at the end of October 2003. Hon’ble
Members of this House will be pleased to know that Saint Gobain, the
global giant in glass manufacturing, would be expanding its base in Tamil
Nadu. Pursuant to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between the State Government and Tata Steel for setting up a titanium
dioxide project in Tuticorin District, the company has already initiated
preliminary prospecting work in the area. With the turn around in the
economy and progress made in implementing the second-generation reforms
outlined in the new Industrial Policy, substantial new investments can be
expected as Tamil Nadu has verily become the destination of choice. A
policy on public-private partnership in infrastructure development
incorporating cross country expertise in this field is currently under
preparation.
37. Information Technology has become the key driver of the services
sector in Tamil Nadu. With exports crossing $ 1.4 billion (Rs. 7000 crores)
and over 1000 IT-export companies, the IT sector in Tamil Nadu holds
impressive promise in terms of new opportunities.
This Government has outlined a visionary “IT Policy" that
places the highest emphasis on Information Technology Enabled Services and
Business-Process Outsourcing (BPO) activities. TIDCO has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with M/s. Ascendas of Singapore to establish
the second IT Park with 1.5 million sq.ft. of world class built up space.
The concept of the Knowledge Industry Township (KIT) has been finalized
and this will come up at Sholinganallur. Work will commence shortly on the 6-lane IT Expressway leading from Madhya Kailash to Mamallapuram.
These initiatives will help form the IT Bay area in Chennai to
rival that in California. Tamil
Nadu has attained the distinction of having been rated as the 'Leader' in
the 'e-Readiness Report-2003'. The 7th National e-Governance Conference
was successfully conducted at Chennai. I am happy to inform you that the
World Bank has decided to locate its permanent back office in India at
Chennai. This shows that Chennai has indeed become the most attractive
destination for the IT industry.
38. The Government places the highest emphasis on building world-class
infrastructure. The focus will be on roads. The Tamil Nadu Road Sector
Project with an outlay of Rs. 2116 crores assisted by the World Bank has
been launched. A special programme to relay and upgrade 2149‑Kms of State Highways,
Major District Roads and Sugarcane Roads has been launched at a total cost
of Rs. 221.32 crores.
39. The Nagapattinam Port has recently been expanded at a project cost
of Rs. 100 crores to facilitate the arrival of 5 lakh tonnes of crude oil.
The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board is working out plans for expansion and upgradation of the Cuddalore Port at an
estimated cost of Rs. 250 crores. It is hoped
that the Union Government will accord early clearance for the
implementation of the Sethu Samudram Project.
40. Members of this House may recall that the Tamil Nadu Electricity
Board (TNEB) was saddled with a huge revenue gap of Rs. 5000 crores and was on the verge of fiscal collapse, when this
Government took office in May 2001. Having arrested the rapid fiscal
decline, the focus now is on augmenting generation capacities and
enhancing distribution efficiencies in order to provide quality and
uninterrupted power supply to the consumers. An additional 902 MW of
generating capacity has been added during 2001-2003. New projects, namely, a 1000-MW plant at North Chennai, 1000-MW
plant at Tuticorin and the 2000-MW plant in Kudangulam have been firmed
up. Major load shedding in Tamil Nadu has become a thing of the past. The
TNEB has earmarked Rs. 5914 crores from its total Tenth Plan outlay of Rs.
8000 crores to augment its distribution network.
A roadmap for the future based on the Electricity Act, 2003, will
be drawn up. The Government has taken action to provide solar lighting in 154 remote
habitations not connected to the supply grid in the current year.
41. Thanks to the professional tourism development policy of this
Government, Tamil Nadu is fast becoming an enchanting destination for
holidaying in Southern India. There has been a major step up in the outlay
on tourism to create new infrastructure. Private sector participation is
being encouraged in development of tourism. Chennai played host to the 64th
SKAL World Congress in October 2003 for the first time in India. The
selection of Chennai as a venue for the meeting has put the State on the
international tourism map.
42. A Price Stabilization Fund to support small tea growers has been
launched by the Government of India.
Small tea growers can join this scheme by making a small initial
contribution and will be eligible for price support when prices come down.
Based on the request of small tea growers in Tamil Nadu, this
Government has decided to make the initial contribution on behalf of
23,000 small tea growers to the Fund at an estimated cost of Rs.1.15
crores. Establishment of a new electronic tea auction centre, namely,
"Teaserve" and sale of 'Ooty' tea through the public
distribution system are some of the important measures undertaken by this
Government to help tea growers realize better prices.
43. The Government’s decision to grant exclusive privilege of retail
vending of Indian Made Foreign Spirit (IMFS) to TASMAC in Tamil Nadu has
effectively broken the cartels that had hitherto monopolized liquor sales
in State, thereby causing revenue loss to the Government. This decision
has also helped 36,200 unemployed youth across the State to get jobs in
the TASMAC-run retail outlets.
44. An ambitious infrastructure investment plan titled the 'Chennai
Metropolitan Development Plan' with an investment of Rs. 18000 crores is being implemented over a period of ten years. In the
current year, investments in infrastructure covering various sectors such
as power, water supply, drainage, traffic and transportation, housing
etc., totalling Rs. 1780.75 crores have been mobilized. These works are under rapid
progress. The pristine beauty of the world famous Marina Beach has been
restored and people can now enjoy the sand and the sea without being
troubled by anti-social elements and the din of all kinds of public
meetings. Members of this August House will be happy to know that services
under the Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) - Phase II have been extended
up to Thiruvanmiyur recently. Nearly 67% of the total project outlay of
Rs. 690 crores under the Phase-II programme of the MRTS is being borne by
the State Government. The scheme for improving the waterways in Chennai with
an outlay of Rs. 1700 crores is progressing well.
I am glad that with all the programmes being taken up, Chennai is
being restored to its position as the city premiere of the South.
45. The Government has taken effective steps to upgrade urban
infrastructure in the State. Comprehensive sewerage schemes for 3
municipal corporations (Trichy, Madurai and Tirunelveli) and 4 municipalities
(Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Karur) are under implementation
at a cost of Rs. 575.30 crores. The
Government proposes to take up a massive project for providing sewerage
facilities at a total outlay of Rs. 844 crores so that all remaining district headquarters have a sewerage
system.
46. The Chief Minister’s policy on 'Malnutrition-Free Tamil Nadu'
represents the Government’s unswerving commitment to providing quality
nutrition security for all. Drumstick
tree leaves and curry leaf powder have been added to the food in the Noon
Meal Centres to combat Vitamin A deficiency. The Government is in the
process of establishing 4297 additional anganwadis in remote habitations
to reach the unreached.
47. Women’s empowerment has been carried to new heights in Tamil Nadu
under the strong leadership of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister’s announcement of the Government’s revolutionary policy
that a child can carry the initial of the mother or the father or both
parents has been a major boost to women’s empowerment. The State has
become a pioneer in the self-help group movement with
coverage of about 25 lakh women in 1.52 lakh self help groups with
savings estimated at Rs. 393.64 crores. Credit linkage now exceeds Rs. 564
crores. Under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme, 2.5 lakh women have so far been trained in
various avocations during 2001-2003 at a cost of Rs. 10 crores and this
scheme would be continued in 2004. The revolutionary Cradle Baby Scheme
has helped save the lives of 1221 girls and 1200 of them have also found
foster homes where they are being brought up with love and care. The
Revised Girl Child Protection Scheme introduced by this Government has
enlisted 8188 beneficiaries at a total outlay of Rs. 12.48 crores during
2001-2003.
48. This Government is committed to ensuring economic and educational
advancement of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Sanction has
been accorded for the construction of 316 hostels for Scheduled Caste and
Scheduled Tribe students at a total cost of Rs. 99.54 crores. This scheme
will be continued in 2004-2005. The scheme of providing free bicycles to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes
and Scheduled Caste convert girl students in the higher secondary classes
has been a tremendous success. A total of 1.44 lakh cycles have been
distributed among eligible beneficiaries. The food allowance in hostels
has been increased from Rs. 225 to Rs. 300 per month. A new scheme of
providing cultivable land to landless Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
women beneficiaries is being launched.
49. The programmes launched to facilitate empowerment and welfare of
the people belonging to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes,
Denotified communities and the Minorities will be further strengthened.
Construction of 214 hostels for students belonging to these communities
has been taken up at a total cost of Rs. 68.49 crores. The food allowance
given to students from these communities in hostels has also been enhanced
from Rs. 225 to Rs. 300 per month. A scheme of special incentives for encouraging girl students
belonging to these communities is being implemented with an outlay of Rs.
12 crores in the current year.
50. The Government has always given importance to improving the quality
of life of the weavers. The scheme of providing free sarees and dhotis to
old age pensioners and the free uniforms scheme have been restructured to
provide continuous employment to handloom weavers. A special project for upgrading skills and looms with an outlay of Rs. 25
crores has been launched in 13 districts. This scheme will come as a boon to nearly 25,000 handloom
weavers in the State. The new scheme of providing free polycot sarees and dhotis has been widely
welcomed. The quality of the sarees and dhotis has been greatly
appreciated. This scheme now provides 1.11 crore sarees and 1.11 crore
dhotis benefiting 2.22 crore people at a cost of Rs. 173 crores. This
scheme also provides work to the powerloom weavers in the State. This
scheme will be continued in the coming year and will form part of the
social safety net. The Chief Minister has taken up with the Union Finance
Minister the need to protect powerloom weavers in the State. The Chief
Minister has suggested that either the optional Excise Duty system
hitherto allowed to the powerloom sector be continued or full exemption
from CENVAT should be given to the powerloom units with turnover less than
Rs. 1 crore, just as in the case of small-scale industries. The Government
of India has exempted the powerloom sector from payment of Excise Duty for
the first clearance up to Rs. 25 lakhs, if the annual sales turnover does
not exceed Rs. 35 lakhs. As this is not adequate, this Government requests the Union
Government to enhance the exemption limit from Rs. 25 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore
to benefit small powerloom weavers.
51. The month-long retreat for
100 elephants at the Mudumalai Wild Life Sanctuary and Top Slip has been a
tremendous success. This rejuvenation camp in a salubrious and cool
environment was a welcome break for the pachyderms. This is an ample
testimony to the Chief Minister’s love and compassion for animals and
indeed our entire eco-system.
52. Promotion of Tamil language, art and culture, and preservation of
the State’s rich cultural heritage have received the highest attention
of this Government. Scientific Tamil has been introduced in all schools
from LKG to standard XII from this academic year and text books on
Scientific Tamil have been supplied free of cost to students at a cost of
Rs. 5.42 crores. A Chair in Tamil Studies has been established at the
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, with a contribution of Rs.50 lakhs by this Government. By coining the word ‘Kudimagal’ to
also connote the word 'citizen', the Chief Minister has infused a new
intensity to the concept of gender equality.
The innovative “Annadhanam Scheme” has been extended to cover 162 temples across the State.
The arrangements for the conduct of the Mahamakham Festival in March 2004
at Kumbakonam will be completed in right earnest at an estimated cost of
Rs. 50 crores. During 2001-2003, Kumbabhisekam was conducted in 2780 temples in Tamil Nadu.
It is proposed to renovate 6,000 small temples in Adi-Dravidar
habitations with contributions from bigger temples at a cost of Rs. 15
crores. The Chennai Museum, which was completely renovated at a cost of Rs. 4.60 crores during its centenary celebrations, has become a major
tourist attraction.
53. In a major effort to provide good governance, the Government has
installed video-conferencing facility between the State Secretariat and
district headquarters. The decision to form the Krishnagiri district by
bifurcating the existing Dharmapuri district has been widely welcomed. The new District will be inaugurated on
9th February, 2004. Improvements to the quality of service delivery in ten
departments and agencies having extensive public interaction are being
taken up for implementation in 2004 by adopting e-governance practices. The Government has been holding detailed
discussions on the features of a new legislation on the Right to
Information and this will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly
shortly.
54. We can look back with pride on the splendid record of this
Government on all fronts and be confident that under the strong and
dynamic leadership of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu will surpass its excellent performance in all spheres in 2004.
I hope that the deliberations in the House will be substantive,
balanced and constructive in order to facilitate the economic progress of
the State bringing prosperity to the people of Tamil Nadu.
Vanakkam
Jai
Hind
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