The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : "Allocation for welfare schemes inadequate"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

"Allocation for welfare schemes inadequate"

Special Correspondent

Eyewash announcements: Jayalalithaa Charges Karunanidhi with making "eyewash announcements"

CHENNAI: The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has charged Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with making "eyewash announcements" of welfare schemes without adequate financial allocation.

In a statement on Wednesday, former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said only due to persistent demands from the AIADMK did Mr. Karunanidhi announce that free gas stoves would be distributed to the poor.

Pointing out that at least Rs. 1,500 would be required for each gas connection, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the financial allocation of Rs.150 crore for the scheme would mean that only 10 lakh families would benefit.

Crores of families in the State were using kerosene stoves.

Unemployment doles

On the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's poll promise to give doles to unemployed youth, Ms. Jayalalithaa said Rs. 110 crore had been set apart for the scheme.

Against the initial announcement that it would benefit all unemployed youth, the Government was now saying that it would be only for those awaiting employment for over five years and that too for only three years.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said the monthly assistance ranging from Rs. 150 to Rs. 300 was meagre.

She said none of the welfare schemes announced by Mr. Karunanidhi had reached the target beneficiaries.

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