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Plea to confer union territory status on Karaikal

Special Correspondent

"Successive governments discriminated against it"

Pondicherry : The Karaikal Struggle Group, a non-political organisation, has appealed to the Centre to make Karaikal a separate Union Territory.

Addressing newsmen here on Tuesday, S. P. Selvashanmugham, KSG convener, and members Tyagi R.Ramaseenivasan, N.Nandhivarman and A. S. T. Ansari Babu said that it was indeed baffling that despite Karaikal mobilising Rs 840 crore annually for the exchequer, no attention had been paid by any government to the region's development since it (along with other constituent regions) became part of Indian Union. Mr. Selvashanmugham alleged that a measly allocation in the annual plan had been made which did not fulfil the requirements of the region. Even local schools did not have enough number of teachers. Courses started in local technical institutes were subsequently shifted to Pondicherry. Jobs were not available for the educated youth like their counterparts in other regions. Public health services, infrastructure , welfare measures and development of sports were inferior compared to those in other constituent pockets.

The members also took exception to the "failure" of the Government to establish a trust board for the Sri Saneeswarar temple in Tirunallar.

Given the distance between Karaikal and Pondicherry, it was not practically possible for people to go over to the headquarters and represent their grievances. It was to overcome these shortcomings that the group was pleading for a separate Union Territory status for the region, Mr. Selvashanmugham and members said.

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