Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday lifted the ban on recruitment and announced concessions to the tune of Rs. 1,648 crore for different sections, notably Government employees, teachers and farmers.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, she said the Government had retrieved the State from "financial degradation" caused by the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.

"Our responsibilities continue. With happiness and satisfaction, I announce that we will implement our duties with renewed vigour. I take leave with the hope that people will give us the opportunity to fulfil this task," she said.

Central norms

Extending an olive branch to Government employees and teachers, Ms. Jayalalithaa announced that 50 per cent of dearness allowance would be merged with basic pay. The norms adopted by the Centre would be followed while implementing it. The `dearness pay' and `dearness pension', would come into effect from January 1, providing considerable benefit to 12.38 lakh employees and teachers and 4.37 lakh pensioners.

The Government would incur an additional expenditure of Rs. 1,200 crore per annum. The benefit was equivalent to pay revision. She expressed the hope that the beneficiaries would serve society with more dedication.

Recalling that the Government had to administer the "bitter pill" of ban on direct recruitment through a G.O. dated November 29, 2001 as part of fiscal discipline measures, she said it would be withdrawn in toto. The decision would enhance the Government services through all departments.

Entrance test

Reiterating the Government's commitment to do away with the common entrance test, she said an alternative would be evolved keeping in mind relevant rules and views of the courts so that the new system would stand the test of law.

In the absence of any communication from the Centre on amending norms of the National Calamity and Contingency Relief Fund to provide adequate relief to farmers in flood affected areas, the State Government would effect a three-fold increase in the per acre compensation for crop loss: Rs. 3,000 for irrigated areas, Rs. 1,200 for rain-fed areas and Rs. 4,800 for coconut. An amount of Rs. 18,000 per hectare had been fixed for reclamation of land silted up to 18 inches and Rs. 12,000 for land silted from 6-18 inches. The package would cost Rs. 358.80 crore to the exchequer.

It would also extend the "one light scheme" at a cost of Rs. 3.60 crore to provide free power for three lakh more hutment dwellers, living in houses within 250 sq ft having tiled, asbestos and tin sheet roofs.

Announcing reduction in the power tariff for places of worship having an annual income of above Rs. 1,000, the Chief Minister said Rs. 1.50 per unit up to first 60 units and Rs. 3 per unit for the subsequent consumption would be the revised rates.

A subsidy of Rs. 3.64 crore would be provided to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board on this count.

The Government would provide additional support price of Rs. 1,400 per acre for the benefit of 50,000 small tea growers at a total expenditure of Rs. 10 crore. It would earmark Rs. 72 crore for extending the Uzhavar Padhukappu Thittam to beneficiaries residing in municipal and special panchayat limits and relaxing rules to enable the wards of the beneficiaries under the scheme to receive scholarship, she said.

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