THOOTHUKUDI: Refuting allegations levelled by the Leader of Opposition about eggs being struck off the menu of Mid-day Meal Scheme, Chief Minister Edapadi K Palaniswami that his government was committed to ensuring nutritious food reached children irrespective of the cost involved.
Rebutting Stalin’s statements on egg distribution under nutritious meal scheme, Palaniswami said that eggs were being distributed schools and anganwadis without any hiccups to benefit 69.3 lakh children. “Over 16 lakh children in anganwadis get eggs twice a week, while 53.3 lakh school students benefit from the scheme five days a week. Eggs would be distributed under the scheme without interruption even if price soars,” he said. Tearing into Stalin’s assessment of State government’s functioning not being up to scratch, chief minister listed out a slew of welfare schemes and projects implemented after 2011 and those he laid foundation stone for.
“The Leader of the Opposition remains disgruntled as his prediction that the AIADMK would dissolve after the demise of J Jayalalithaa did not materialise. His dreams to capturing power too would never materialise as the AIADMK is performing really well,” the chief minister pointed out.
Hailing free distribution of laptops to students as a ‘massive scientific revolution’ wrought about by Jayalalithaa, he said education featured top on the list of AIADMK government. The fact that 37 lakh laptops have been distributed, at a cost of `391 crore, to the students only buttressed the claims, he said. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha deputy speaker and AIADMK senior leader Dr M Thambidurai reiterated the party’s commitment towards protecting the rights of Tamils, their culture and heritage, besides the autonomous nature of governance.