The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : "Toilets, not TVs, needed"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

"Toilets, not TVs, needed"

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam should have promised to construct toilets in slums instead of offering free colour television sets to the poor, V. Kalyanam, who worked as personal secretary to Mahatma Gandhi, said on Tuesday. On the DMK's poll assurance, Mr. Kalyanam told a function — organised by the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Memorial National Welfare Foundation to mark the 150th anniversary of the commencement of freedom struggle that the slums now had more TV sets than toilets. Good governance should have been the focus of the party's electoral plank.

R.S. Chhikara, trustee-secretary of Netaji-Azad Hind Fauj Smarak Nyas (Indian Natinoal Army Memorial Trust), wanted the day of declaration of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War observed as Victory Day. He said a nation that did not remember its heroes and heroic deeds would not command the respect of others.

Nalli Kuppusami Chetti, industrialist, said the youth should be sensitised to the sacrifices made by freedom fighters.

Venkatarajulu, chairman, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Arts College, Thiruvarur, and M. Kumar, secretary of the Foundation, spoke.

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