Puducherry: General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) V. Narayanasamy said that the free rice scheme implemented by the administration should cover only the families coming under "Below Poverty Line (BPL)" category, instead of making it available to all categories irrespective of their economic status.

Addressing newsmen here on Monday, Mr. Narayanasamy said that presently 10 kg of rice was supplied to all categories of cardholders irrespective of their income.

Increased quantum

He contended that the Government should keep the affluent people out of the scheme so that poor families could get an increased quantum of even 20 kg of rice a month.

He said that he had made this clear at the last week's meeting of Puducherry Planning Board.

The Board discussed the schemes that should be promoted in the XI Plan and in the first year (2007-2008) of the Five-Year plan, he said.

Mr. Narayanasamy said that he had urged the Board to concentrate on eradicating unemployment in the Union Territory where around 1.5 lakh youth were waiting for jobs through Employment Exchanges. Similarly, promotion of tourism-related projects and encouraging non-polluting industries were the other areas, which should be taken into consideration.

Mr. Narayanasamy said that the Centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission was prepared to fund projects like laying of underground drainage in Puducherry and Karaikal districts, provision of drinking water and development of roads. The Mission was mulling allocation of Rs. 300 crore to Puducherry as grant.

Appropriate schemes

He said that the administration should evolve schemes appropriately.

The extent of land needed for expanding the runway in Puducherry airport was now available from Tamil Nadu Government and the Central Civil Aviation Minister was also being persuaded to ensure that air service with a 50-seater aircraft be introduced to link Puducherry with Bangalore, Chennai and Tirupati. This would be of help particularly when Special Economic Zone was going to be established here, Mr. Narayanasamy added.

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