98. Honourable Members may recall that it was the DMK Government which had safeguarded rights of women by giving them equal right to property and 33% reservation in local bodies. This Government regrets to point out that the draft Bill to provide 33% reservation in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies is still pending without enactment and this Government will continue to urge the Union Government to take expeditious steps to uphold the gender rights.

99. On 15^th August, 2006, the Hon’ble Chief Minister had announced the scheme for providing free gas stoves and free LPG connection to houses with no gas connection, for the benefit of women in poor and middle income families. In the first phase of the scheme, out of a target of 3 lakh gas connections, 74,201 families have been given free gas stoves and gas connections so far. In the coming financial year, the Government proposes to give 5 lakh free gas stoves and gas connections and for this purpose, a sum of Rs.100 crores has been provided in this Budget. This scheme will continue in the coming years also.

100. This Government has revived the Moovalur Ammaiyar Memorial Marriage Assistance Scheme by providing financial assistance for marriage without any distinction of caste or creed and has increased the quantum of assistance from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000. This Scheme has reduced the burden of marriage related expenditure for poor women and thus has been of great relief to them. In the current year, 46,000 women have benefited under the Scheme so far. This scheme will benefit 50,000 women in the coming financial year and a sum of Rs.75 crores has been provided for the same.

101. With a view to further strengthening the Self Help Group (SHG) movement launched by the DMK Government in 1989 in Dharmapuri District, this Government has increased the training allowance given to them. During the current financial year, 19,000 new SHGs have been formed so far. During 2007-2008, 25,000 new SHGs will be formed benefiting 5 lakh women. This Government will continue to provide assistance for their capacity building and enabling them to take up income generating activities.

102. This Government is implementing the first phase of the World Bank aided ‘Vaazhndhu Kattuvom’ project in 15 Panchayat Unions in 15 districts with the objective of promoting the welfare of the most marginalized sections of the society like the poorest of the poor, poor women, disabled and destitutes. Area of coverage of this project, implemented at a cost of Rs.717 crores, will be expanded to cover 2,432 Village Panchayats in 70 Panchayat Unions in the next financial year.

103. This Government had doubled the quantum of monthly pension given to old aged persons, destitute widows and deserted wives from Rs.200 to Rs.400. A provision of Rs.625 crores has been made for this scheme which provides social security assistance to about 11 lakh poor and destitute persons.

105. With a view to ending the miserable situation where the severely mentally retarded persons, who are unable to take care of themselves, are left with no support, the Government has decided to provide all such persons with the same pension as for severely handicapped persons, without any ceiling as to their number or income. A sum of Rs.25 crores has been provided in this Budget for providing monthly assistance to them and for providing assistance to NGOs who come forward to take care of them.

106. The Government is aware that the plight of completely blind persons is no less agonising than the plight of mentally retarded persons. Therefore, as in the case of mentally retarded persons all required facilities will be extended to blind persons also. Hostel facilities will be provided in Chennai and other district headquarters for blind students studying in colleges. In addition, Folding Sticks and Black Goggles will be provided to all remaining blind persons under the scheme of providing these aids.

107. The monthly assistance given to disabled persons has been increased from Rs.200 to Rs.400 in the current year and 71,000 disabled persons have benefited. Further, the monthly assistance given to severely disabled persons has been increased from Rs.200 to Rs.500 and this has benefited 10,000 severely disabled persons. The Government and NGOs have been providing orthopaedically handicapped persons in the State with tricycles. With the objective of providing tricycles to all remaining disabled persons, 6,000 tricycles will be distributed at a cost of Rs.180 lakhs. Severely disabled persons will be given motorized tricycles to facilitate their easy movement over long distances.

108. In addition, this Government has established a separate welfare board for the disabled and has taken necessary measures for providing various welfare benefits to them. In order to ensure the continuing governmental attention and assistance for the disabled in the future also, the Government will introduce a separate Bill for this purpose in this current session of the Legislative Assembly.

109. With a view to providing continuous employment to handloom weavers, the scheme for giving free dhotis and sarees to poor people during Pongal will continue in 2007-2008. A provision of Rs.256 crores has been made for this scheme. In order to continue the scheme for providing free power to handloom and powerloom weavers, as announced by this Government in the previous calendar year, a provison of Rs.78 crores has been made in this Budget. This initiative would benefit 1,50,000 handloom and 80,000 powerloom weavers. The monthly pension given to handloom weavers above 60 years of age will be doubled from Rs.200 to Rs.400 per month. The Government will bear the additional expenditure. This scheme will benefit about 13,000 handloom weavers currently receiving pension.

110. With a view to increasing the income of weavers, the Government is implementing a scheme to boost the sales of handloom cloth by introducing new designs in collaboration with the National Institute of Design at Ahmedabad. With a view to producing adequate quantity of silk yarn necessary for silk weaving within the state itself, an additional 10,000 acres of land will be brought under Mulberry cultivation in 2007-2008. Sericulture Development Project will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.15 crores with central assistance

111. The Government will establish a permanent market fair (Haat) at Kanyakumari where the artisans of the State can directly sell their products to tourists. The State will contribute its share of Rs.60 lakh for this project to supplement Rs.140 lakhs of central assistance for this scheme.

112. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister about the difficulties faced by the Tamil fishermen who are being increasingly subjected to attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy in the recent past. On 12.3.2007, an agitation was launched in Chennai spearheaded by the Ministers of this Government and a Memorandum was presented to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner. The Union Ministers and the Members of Parliament from this state had also represented to the Prime Minister in New Delhi in this regard. In these circumstances, we urge the Union Government to intervene in this matter immediately and protect the fishermen of our state.

113. In the Governor’s Address, this Government had announced the creation of a separate welfare board for fishermen. All benefits given under the Landless Agricultural Labourers and Farmers Social Security and Welfare Scheme will be extended to fishermen also. A separate Bill for the same will be introduced during this session of the Legislative Assembly. Women who are engaged in activities like drying and sale of fish will also be covered under the above scheme. A sum of Rs.5 crores has been provided for this purpose.

114. A provision of Rs.28 crores for providing assistance to fishermen in lean season when they are unable to go for fishing and another provision of Rs.12.48 crores for the scheme for providing assistance to fisherwomen have been made. In addition, the sales tax exemption on diesel which is sold to fishermen for their use will continue under the VAT system also.

115. With a view to providing succour to the educated unemployed youth who have been waiting after registering in employment exchanges, the Government is implementing the scheme of providing monthly assistance up to Rs.300 to the unemployed youth. Under this scheme which was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 11.11.2006, in the first phase 2,06,766 youth and in the second phase, that commenced on 24.2.2007, an additional 1,03,629 youth i.e., so far 3,10,395 youth are deriving benefits. A sum of Rs.95 crores has been allocated for this scheme, in the coming financial year.

116. As a result of the continuing efforts of this Government, the industries and the service sectors in Tamil Nadu are growing at a rapid rate. If the youth from Tamil Nadu have to benefit from the increase in the employment opportunities generated by this growth, it is absolutely essential to impart skill training to them in jobs they would like to work. Accordingly, not only providing monthly assistance to unemployed youth, but also with a view to make them employable by suitable training, 50,000 unemployed youth will be given skill development training through the Government Industrial Training Institutes at a cost of Rs.8 crores in the coming financial year.

117. All employment exchanges in the State will be computerized in order to facilitate the expeditious filling up of vacancies in Government posts. With a view to making good the shortage in the availability of trained manpower being faced by industries like ready made and hosiery garments having high employment potential, training centres will be established at a cost of Rs.2 crores in Hosur, Madurai, Tiruvannamalai, Tirunelveli and Dharmapuri. In order to facilitate self-employment of unemployed youth, the Government has taken steps to issue permits to 10,000 autorickshaws.

118. In order to arrange suitable employment opportunities to unemployed youth, this Government had announced that 10,000 youth Self Help Groups (SHGs) would be formed. 8,600 youth SHGs have been formed so far and in association with industrial establishments, industrial training is being imparted to them.

119. It was the DMK Government which had established various labour welfare boards for the welfare of unorganized labour who were till then neglected and were without even a modicum of social security. These welfare boards, which were abolished in the intervening period, have been reestablished by this Government and are implementing various social security and welfare schemes for unorganized labourers. During 2006-2007, 1,21,596 labourers have been given benefits worth Rs.29 crores through the various welfare boards so far. With a view to ensuring the distribution of welfare benefits to the thousands of unorganized labourers without any delay, all offices of the unorganized labour welfare board will be computerized.

120. Improving the standard of living of the Adi Dravidars and Tribal communities is one of the important objectives of this Government. For the first time in India, this Government had announced and implemented a Special State Assistance Scheme, on the lines of the Union Government’s Special Central Assistance, with a provision of Rs.25 crores to provide assistance for the economic development of Adi Dravidars and Tribals. To ensure the continued implementation of this scheme in the coming year also, a provision of Rs.25 crores has been made.

121. This Government has decided to formulate a new scheme to encourage meritorious students hailing from Adi-dravidar and Tribal Communities. Under this scheme, ten Adi dravidar and Tribal students of Government schools who have secured the highest marks in Class X in each district will be selected and their admission for Class XI will be arranged in the best schools of the State as per their choice so as to ensure quality education for them. The Government will bear their expenses by way of tuition fees and hostel fees. A sum of Rs.2 crores has been allocated for this scheme in the Budget.

122. During 2006-2007, the Government has been implementing schemes for the economic development of Adi Dravidars at an outlay of Rs.208 crores benefiting 1,97,400 persons. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs.25.49 crores has been provided to the SHGs benefiting 1,70,036 Adi Dravidars. 11,982 youth have been given job-oriented skill training at a cost of Rs.22.56 crores. With a view to ending the abhorrent practice of manual scavenging, the Government is implementing a rehabilitation scheme at a cost of Rs.58.4 crores for 11,691 persons who were engaged in this vocation. 3,199 persons have received financial assistance for alternative employment so far.

124. During the rule of the DMK Government in 1996-2001, a scheme for granting free house site pattas to poor families belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities was under implementation. This scheme which was abandoned in the intervening period, has been revived again by the present Government in 2006-07 and a sum of Rs.5 crores is allocated for this scheme in the Budget for the coming financial year. Special staff will be appointed to undertake land acquisition works for this scheme.

125. With a view to providing irrigation facilities to small and medium farmers belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, the Government will launch a new grant cum loan scheme of financial assistance up to Rs.1 lakh, in the next financial year. This scheme comprising of a bank loan and a matching 50% grant by the State Government, subject to a maximum of Rs.50,000 per beneficiary, will be implemented through the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation. Rs.25 crores has been allocated for this scheme.

Welfare of Minorities

126. This Government is determined to promote and safeguard the rights granted to the minorities under the Constitution of India. Taking into account, the economic and educational backwardness of the minorities, as pointed out in the Report of the Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee constituted by the Union Government, this Government will make all efforts to ensure due representation for them in all spheres. Having regard to the fact that special attention of the Government is necessary for their socio-economic development, this Government has decided to form a new Directorate for Minorites Welfare.

127. Further, with a view to equip minorities with necessary skills to secure employment in the Government and private sector as well as self-employment, the Government will launch Skill Development Training Scheme for Minorities in 2007-2008. This scheme will be implemented at a cost of Rs.250 lakhs through the Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation. Under this scheme, 5,000 young men and women belonging to minority communities will be provided training in various vocations such as information technology enabled services and ready-made garment making. In the coming financial year, an amount of Rs.30 crores will be disbursed as loan assistance to 21,000 beneficiaries through the Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation.

Welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils

128. In addition to doubling the cash relief given to the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, this Government is also taking necessary action to improve the facilities in the refugee camps. Having regard to the situation where there is no protection to the life and property of Tamils living in Sri Lanka, as desired by the Union Government, this Government wishes for a peaceful political solution through negotiations to this long standing problem of several years.

Scheme for providing Eggs under Nutritious Meals Programme

129. With a view to ensuring adequate nutrition to all children, commencing from the birthday of Kamarjar, observed as Education Development Day, this Government is providing two eggs a week to children under the Nutritious Meals Programme. 68,14,601 children are getting nutritious meals under this programme. Considering the fact that school going children require good protein for their mental and physical development and with a view to providing them with additional nutrition, three eggs a week will be provided under the Nutritious Meal Programme from the next Education Development Day onwards. The Government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs.53 crores for this scheme. In the Budget 2007-2008, Rs.165 crores has been provided for providing three eggs a week and Rs.781 crores has been provided as the total allocation for the Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. Nutritious Meals Programme.

Tamil Development and Culture

130. Even though the Union Government has granted the status of Classical Language to Tamil, the Government would like to point out that we are still in a situation where our State is compelled to demand for the commensurate rights, privileges, powers and resources that should have been bestowed on us along with this status. In order to assuage the feelings of Tamil people, this Government would take concerted action to expedite and quicken the delayed response of the Ministry of Human Resources Development in complying with the requests made by the State Government and the Tamil Classical Language Committee.

131. The DMK, ever since its state conference at Tiruchi, in 1996, has been demanding that the regional languages should find place as official languages of the Union and if there are unavoidable difficulties in doing so, to begin with , Tamil must be made one of the official languages of the Union. We shall urge that the Union Government should come forward to fulfil this longstanding demand.

132. Under the Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project commenced in 1974, 18 of the targeted 31 parts have been already published. Another seven parts have been finalized and will be published in 2006-2007. The work for completing the remaining six parts will be taken up in the coming years.

133. In consonance with this Government’s tradition of acknowledging and appreciating the contribution of Tamil scholars to the Tamil Language, the Government has increased the monthly assistance provided to elderly Tamil Scholars from Rs.500/- to Rs.1,000 and the financial assistance provided to those who participated in the agitations for retention of Tamil speaking areas with our State from Rs.3,000/- to Rs.4,000/-.

134. After this Government assumed office, the works of 17 doyens of Tamil language including that of Parithimar Kalaignar alias Surya Narayana Sastriar, Pulavar Kulanthai, Silambuchelvar Ma.Po.Si., Pulavar Ghulam Khadhir Navalar, T.V. Sadasiva Pandarathar, Mayuram Vedhanayagam Pillai, Dr. C. Ilakkuvanar, Maha Vidhvan Dhandapani Desikar, Pulavar Ka. Govindan, T.P.Meenakshi Sundaranar, T.N.Kumarasamy, Ka.Su.Pillai, T.Ja.Ranganathan (T.Ja.Ra.), Narana Duraikannan, Dr.M.Rajamanickanar, Dr.V.Sp.Manickam and Sakthi Vai.Govindan have been nationalized and solatium of Rs.1.29 crores has been given to their legal heirs. The works of Singaravelar, Kirupananda Variar , Kunrakudi Adigalar, Ki.Aa.Pe.Viswananatham, Ki.Va.Jagannathan, Avvai Duraiswamy Pillai, A.Sa.Gnanasambandar, Tirukkuralar Munuswami, Uvamai Kavignar Suradha, Savi, Mavengo alias Va.Ko. Shanmugam, Deepam Na. Parthasarathy, S.S.Thennarasu, C.P.Chitrarasu, A.V.P.Asaithampi, T.K.Seenuvasan, Rama.Arangannal, Kavignar Vanidasan, Kavignar Karunandan, Jalakandapuram Pa.Kannan will also be nationalized and solatium will be given to their descendants having regard to the number of books written by them and their merit. This initiative will be continued. Apart from this, a new scheme will be introduced for grant of solatium to living Tamil scholars who are in indigent circumstances.

135. With a view to enlighten foreign and Indian tourists who visit the Tiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari, pamphlets expounding the greatness of Saint Tiruvalluvar and Tirukkural will be printed in English and regional languages and distributed to them.

Social Reforms

136. The department of Social Reforms has been revived with a view to promoting rationalism and social reforms like abolition of caste system, removal of superstitions, promotion of inter-caste marriages and religious harmony. A Committee headed by Professor Nannan along with seven social activists will be constituted to make necessary recommendations to this department. The recommendations of the Committee will be implemented through the Social Reforms department.

137. Immediately after assuming power, this Government issued a landmark order upholding social justice, by which qualified Hindus belonging to all communities can become Archakas in Hindu Temples, thus removing the thorn in the heart of Thanthai Periyar and making his dream a reality. The Government had constituted a High Level Committee headed by Justice A.K.Rajan to make recommendations for implementing this order and the Government has accepted all its recommendations, and issued orders. Based on these recommendations, in the first phase, the Government has decided to establish Archaka training institutions in Palani, Madurai, Tiruchendur and Tiruvannamalai for Saiva Agama and in Tiruchi and Chennai for Vaishnava Agama.

Tourism

138. With a view to increasing the number of local tourists and promoting tourist centres, an amount of Rs. 27 crores has been allocated for 2007-2008. Prominent tourist centres like Yelagiri, Tiruvarangam, Marina Beach, Udhagamandalam and Mudumalai will be developed. Detailed Project Report for introduction of Night Safari in Vandalur Zoo will be prepared and night Safari implemented accordingly. An Aquarium of international standard will be established in the beach in Chennai.

139. With a view to displaying the craftsmanship of our sculptors to tourists in one location, a Sculpture Park will be established in Mamallapuram, which epitomises the sculptural expertise of Tamils. A Butterfly Park will be opened as part of Vandalur zoo where children and tourists can see different species of butterflies in a single place.

Samuthuva Pongal

140. This year, people celebrated Pongal, the festival of Tamils, all over the State in a grand manner as ‘Samuthuva Pongal’ in response to the request of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar. In the coming years also, Pongal will be celebrated in a grand manner with people’s participation as a State festival. During this festival, performances of traditional and folk art forms of the State, which serve as symbols portraying Tamil Culture, will be organised in Chennai, district headquarters and other towns. Further, this Government will continue to support traditional art festivals jointly organized by the Tourism Department and the private organisations which have been approved by the Iyal, Isai Nataka Manram of Government of Tamil Nadu. With a view to promoting these traditional folk art forms, a Centre for Tamil Culture and Folk Arts will be established.

141. The Government has decided to celebrate the Centenary of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on 30.10.2007 in a befitting manner. In commemoration of this occasion, the Government has decided to take up renovation of his Memorial in Pasumpon village without affecting its antiquity, construction of a ‘Centenary Memorial Arch’ and installation of an ‘eternal flame’ in his memory and provision of basic amenities to the public who visit the Memorial to pay their respects, at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs.

142. With a view to honouring the memory of the late socialist leader, Thiru P. Jeevanandam, his Centenary will be celebrated on 21.8.2007 by the Government in Chennai, Coimbatore and Nagercoil.

143. The Weekly "Oru Paisa Tamilan" started by Ayothidasa Pandithar on 19^th June, 1907 is considered as one of his major contributions. This weekly occupies a significant place in the history of Tamil journalism and has played a pioneering role in uniting the oppressed Tamil people all over the world. In remembrance of its historic contribution, the Centenary of this weekly will be celebrated by the Government.