Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday emphasised that her government would not spare anyone who tries to whip up communal passions and creates caste tensions. She made the point while inaugurating the three-day conference of District Collectors here.
The Chief Minister pointed out that despite persistent attempts by Maoists to take roots in the State, they had been denied a foothold by ceaseless vigilance, particularly in the tri-junction area between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
“One primary reason for the frustration of Left-wing extremists at not succeeding in their mission is that the administration in the State is responsive to the needs of the public. People do not have to look up to anti-constitutional forces to redress grievances, when the political and administrative machineries are able,” she remarked.
Farm Fresh Outlets
Recalling the successful running of 40 farm fresh consumer outlets in Chennai to sell vegetables at reasonable prices, she said already 2,482 metric tonnes of vegetables worth `7.38 crore have been sold through such shops, and urged the Collectors to open the farm fresh outlets at in their districts.
Observing that Tamil Nadu’s Universal PDS was a model food security programme that had been commended both within India and elsewhere, she urged the Collectors to ensure that the process of collection of biometric information through the National Population Register was expedited and smart cards issued to all families at the earliest.
Amma Unavagams
Describing the establishment of Amma Unavagams (Amma eateries) as a revolutionary concept, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said they had changed the paradigm of nutrition for the poor, just as the Nutritious Midday Meal Programme did when former chief minister M G Ramachandran had launched it three decades ago in 1982.
Referring to the huge allocations made by her for the growth of urban infrastructure, she said, “urban growth will no doubt create jobs and fuel prosperity, but mine is also a compassionate and caring government. The poor and the vulnerable in the urban areas are at the forefront of my agenda.” Amma eateries, she emphasised, have been set up to benefit these urban poor.
Stating that her government had been taking many steps to end the woes of Sri Lankan Tamils and Tamil Nadu fishermen who had been a target of the Lankan Navy, she expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would give a positive verdict on her petition on the retrieval of Katchatheevu from Lanka.
She said her government had sanctioned `1,614 crore to help Cauvery delta farmers during drought and also noted that the plan allocation for agricultural sector was hiked to `3,340 crore.
Stating that Open Defecation Free State by 2015 was high on her priority list, Jayalalithaa said Collectors should play a very important role in ensuring that the goal was achieved within the specified timeframe.