MADURAI: The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) should act as carrier of schemes formulated for the welfare of people by the Union Government to the remotest villages. This would strengthen the hands of the Congress-led Government at the Centre, besides paving the way for the State unit to regain its place at the political summit, said Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G. K. Vasan on Monday.

Addressing the southern districts' conference of INTUC and the first anniversary celebration of Working Women Congress Union (WWCU) here, Mr. Vasan said Tamil Nadu stood first in the country in all spheres during the rule of Kamaraj. It was now the duty of every Congressman to work to regain the past glory. The INTUC should emerge as a single force, without any division, to take the schemes of the Union Government to rural areas. The Minister was confident that with a new Government in Tamil Nadu, which saw eye to eye with the Centre, it would be possible to successfully implement all Central schemes here without any delay.

Mr. Vasan said the Centre was formulating a law for the welfare of unorganised workers, which would soon be introduced in Parliament.

Demand for new dam

Dindigul MP N. S. V. Chiththan mooted the construction of a new dam downstream to fully utilise the available water in the Periyar dam, when the Kerala Government refused to implement the Supreme Court's directive to raise the water level from 136 feet to 142 feet.

B. S. Gnanadesikan, Rajya Sabha member, outlined the various schemes implemented by the Union Government for the welfare of women.

INTUC general secretary G. Kalan said the Congress should respect and not ignore the trade union. H. Vasantha Kumar, MLA, wanted the party high command to launch a satellite television channel as major parties in the State had their own channels.

In his presidential address, INTUC vice-president K. S. Govindarajan urged Mr. Vasan to take up the task of bringing together various factions to create a unified INTUC. Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare A. Tamilarasi offered felicitations.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail