The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Even critics benefit from government schemes: Velu

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Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009
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Even critics benefit from government schemes: Velu

Staff Reporter

Free CTVs, gas stoves distributed to residents of 5 panchayats

HELPING THE NEEDY: Food Minister E. V. Velu distributing an LPG stove to a beneficiary, at a function at Vaividanthaangal on Sunday.

CHENGAM: People who criticised the schemes announced by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government before the elections, including waiver of loan for farmers, were now the main beneficiaries, Food Minister E.V.Velu said here on Sunday.

Participating in a function to distribute free colour television sets and gas stoves to the residents of five panchayats coming under the Pudupalayam Panchayat Union at Vaividanthaangal, Mr. Velu said the schemes introduced by the DMK government was even benefiting people attached to main Opposition parties such as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The welfare schemes including one kg of rice for Re.1 was to benefit people below the poverty line (BPL).

The DMK government never discriminated people based on political parties while executing welfare schemes. The main beneficiaries have been farmers. For instance, the scheme to distribute three eggs in a week for students of government schools was introduced in the hope that it would increase the intelligence of the students belonging to poor families.

He said that under the DMK government the farmers continued to benefit. In this year’s budget the Chief Minister had earmarked Rs.2,000 crore for farmers to be availed of as loan. Another benefit was that if the farmers repaid the loan promptly, they would not be required to pay interest. The interest amount incurred would be borne by the government.

On the healthcare front, a medical insurance scheme to benefit farmers has been introduced. Under the scheme, farmers can get treated in private hospitals and 51 major diseases have been identified for treatment.

Tiruvannamalai Collector M.Rajendran said free colour television sets and electric stove were yet to be given only to 15 to 20 villages. Rest of the villages in the district had been covered. Tirupattur Constituency MP D.Venugopal, Chengam MLA Polur M Varadan and Pudupalayam Panchayat Union Chairman C.Sundarapandian spoke.

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