The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : More allotment to PDS is helping people, says E.V. Velu

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

More allotment to PDS is helping people, says E.V. Velu

Special Correspondent

Minister distributes free colour television sets, LPG connections

Over 2 lakh people in the State given employment in the last two years
12,400 free LPG connections to be provided in Tiruvannamalai during 2008-09

TIRUVANNAMALAI: The State government has allotted Rs. 2,000 crore to the public distribution system (PDS) to help the people tackle the issue of price rise, according to Food Minister E.V. Velu.

He was distributing colour television sets to 634 people in Sivanam, Thirakkovil, Sorapudur, Koothambattu, Genganampoondi and Achamangalam villages and distributing free LPG connections to 304 persons in Keezhvelliyur in Thellar panchayat union on Friday. Mr. Velu said the government was able to sell palm oil at Rs.40 a kg through PDS as against the open market price of Rs.58 a kg owing to allotment of such a substantial amount to the PDS.

A total of 12,400 free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections would be provided in Tiruvannamalai district during 2008-09, as against 10,700 connections the previous financial year. Rice is being supplied at Rs.2 a kg through the PDS to 1.97 crore families in the State. The government is allotting three lakh tones of rice every month for the Rs.2-a-kg rice scheme, Mr. Velu said. The government has provided employment to 2.48 lakh people in the State in the last two years. Consequent to the government lifting the ban on recruitment two years ago, 5,383 people have been provided employment in government service on compassionate grounds, 11,143 people through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, 65,569 people through the District Employment Offices, 13,200 through the Teachers Recruitment Board, 5829 people through the Uniformed Services Recruitment Board and 46,392 people on daily wage basis.

M. Rajendran, Collector, said the government has issued orders that rice bags should not be transported from the godowns of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation to the PDS shops after 2 p.m. to prevent smuggling of PDS rice, following complaints received about smuggling.

S.P. Jayaraman, Vandavasi MLA, M.S. Dharanivendhan, chairman, Thellar Panchayat Union, Jegandas and Malarvizhi, Block Development Officers of Thellar panchayat union, and Karunamoorthy and Kalidas, tahsildars of Vandavasi, spoke. K. Balaraman, Revenue Divisional Officer, Cheyyar, proposed a vote of thanks.

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