50. In accordance with this Government’s objective that a medical college must be established in every district of the State, orders have been issued in the last two years for establishing new medical colleges in three district headquarters namely Villupuram, Tiruvarur and Dharmapuri and necessary follow-up action is under progress. Similarly, two new medical colleges will be established at the district headquarter towns of Sivaganga and Perambalur in the coming financial year.

51. Currently, works to the tune of Rs.222 crores are underway in the State for improving the infrastructure of hospitals and medical colleges and for constructing hostels and establishing nursing schools. Ten Government Medical Colleges will be provided digital X-ray machines at a cost of Rs.10 crores. New Nursing Schools will be established at Vellore and Theni Medical Colleges at a cost of Rs.4 crores.

52. Varumun Kappom Thittam, a pioneering scheme in preventive health care for the entire country, has been revived by this Government and medical camps by teams of medical experts are being conducted throughout the State. This scheme has widely been welcomed by the public and till date, 54.5 lakh persons have benefited under this scheme in 5,204 medical camps.

53. By introducing 24 hour maternity care in 1,000 Primary Health Centres in the rural areas of the State, Tamil Nadu has set an example for the entire country in promoting mother and child welfare. In addition, specialist doctors have been appointed in 83 district and taluk hospitals which have been upgraded as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and New born Care (CEmONC) Centres. Thanks to these special efforts taken by this Government, institutional delivery in the State has gone up to 98.9 percent and 64.25 percent of these deliveries are taking place in Government hospitals.

54. With a view to assisting the public in need of urgent medical attention, who require to be taken immediately to hospitals, this Government will launch a new scheme in the coming financial year whereby people from anywhere in the State need to dial a single common telephone number to request emergency ambulance services. A computer based central control room along with GPS fitted Ambulances will provide this service. The services of Police and Fire Service departments will also be integrated to this system thereby ensuring immediate assistance to the public in situations of emergency. A Centre for providing immediate medical care to people affected in large numbers during natural calamities and major accidents, will be established at Chennai with Central assistance.

55. Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project is being implemented at a cost of Rs.597crores. Under this scheme, in the coming financial year, 227 Government hospitals will be upgraded by way of various measures like carrying out improvement works, provision of medical equipments and appointment of specialist doctors. A sum of Rs.221 crores has been allocated under this Budget for purchasing medicine for all Government hospitals in the State. Totally, as against a sum of Rs.1,487 crores in 2005-2006, a sum of Rs.2,741 crores has been provided for Health and Family Welfare department in this Budget.

56. In order to give a helping hand to the children orphaned by AIDS, living in misery without any support, this Government has decided to form a Government sponsored Trust for their welfare. This Trust will help children who have lost either their mother or father or both due to AIDS. The Government will provide monthly assistance through this Trust to those NGOs or relatives who take care of these children in the form of allowances for their maintenance, education and health care. A sum of Rupees five crores has been provided for this Trust in this Budget.

57. In the last two years after this Government assumed charge, 13 Memoranda of Understanding have been signed for establishing various industries which will bring in an investment of Rs.17,583 crores and provide direct and indirect employment to 1,41,640 persons. Several automobile manufacturing units are being established in Tamil Nadu like the expansion unit of the Hyundai car manufacturing plant for increasing the production capacity to about six lakh cars per year; a new joint venture between Renault and Nissan for manufacturing four lakh cars per annum and the new joint venture between Nissan and Ashok Leyland for manufacturing three lakh commercial vehicles per annum. Similarly, in the case of computers and electronics also, many leading firms like
Dell Computers, Motorola, Samsung, Moser Baer and Signet Solar have come forward to establish their manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu. Thanks to these investments, Tamil Nadu has emerged as the leading State in the country in the automobile and electronic manufacturing sectors.

58. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) numbering 32 have been approved in Tamil Nadu so far and 29 out of the these have been already notified by the Central Government. Efforts are being taken to establish multi-product SEZs at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli District, Krishnagiri, Perambalur and Ennore. The employment opportunities in the State will increase significantly once all these SEZs become functional. While Tamil Nadu is one of the frontline States in the country in the establishment of SEZs, the Government will pay careful attention to the livelihood security of farmers while establishing them.

59. Industrial development will generate employment opportunities and will sow the seeds of economic development. The Industrial Policy of this Government, designed with the objective that the industrial development must not be only confined to Chennai and surrounding regions but also must be spread throughout the State so that the people from all parts of the State are able to reap its fruits has been released on 5.11.2007. Accordingly, incentives which are given to investments above Rs.350 crores in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts are extended to investments above Rs.250 crores for industries set up in other parts of the State. This will ensure that industrial development will cease to be Chennai-centric and will be spread across all parts of the State. With the same objective, the following SEZs will be established in the industrially backward areas of the State.

- Transport Engineering Goods SEZ in 255 acres at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli District,

- Automobile and Auto spare parts SEZ in 255 acres at Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai District.

- Engineering goods SEZ in 263 acres at Perunthurai in Erode District.

- Leather Sector SEZ in 260 acres at Ranipet in Vellore District.

60. In the context of cement prices increasing all over the country, it was only the Government of Tamil Nadu that took necessary steps to ensure that the general public and builders are not affected by this increase in prices. Thanks to the efforts of this Government, cement producers have agreed to sell 20 lakh bags of cement every month at a concessional price of Rs.200 per bag. People are deriving benefit from this scheme by purchasing up to 400 bags of cement from the godowns of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation.

61. With a view to increasing the production of cement in the public sector, it has been decided to modernise the cement plant at Alangulam belonging to Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation (TANCEM) which was established in 1970 during the DMK regime. The modernisation will be carried out at a cost of Rs.82 crores thereby doubling the production capacity of this plant.

62. Chennai has emerged as one of the major hubs of Information Technology (IT) in India. In this scenario, the Government is taking concerted action to promote the development of IT Sector in Tier-II cities of the State. IT Parks are being set up in Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli and Salem. Companies establishing IT Parks have been allotted land and SEZ status has been obtained for them. The development of IT sector in these towns will generate large scale employment opportunities and its benefits shall reach all parts of the State. A new Information Technology Park will set up in Vellore by ELCOT in partnership with the private sector in the coming financial year.

63. As a result of the various efforts of this Government, the value of software exports from our State, which was Rs.14,400 crores during 2005-2006, has increased by 46 % to Rs.21,000 crores in the last financial year. The Information Technology Policy of this Government, which is to be announced shortly, is designed to sustain this growth in the future years also and to make Tamil Nadu the leading state in the IT Sector.

64. The e-District programme for the computerisation of the District Collector’s Office will be implemented in districts of Coimbatore, Tiruvarur, Krishnagiri, Perambalur and Ariyalur. Further, under the Union Government’s e-Bharat scheme, e-governance will be introduced in the three main departments of the Government, namely Food and Civil Supplies Department, Commercial Taxes Department and Treasuries Department. These measures would make Tamil Nadu a frontline state in e-governance.

65. With a view to enabling the rural people to use the internet to access information, obtain various certificates and forms issued by the Government and make various payments from within the village itself, 5,440 Common Service Centres will be established throughout the State in the coming financial year.

67. As announced in the last Budget, a separate policy for Micro, Small and Medium Industries was announced for the first time in the State. Through a package of incentives, this policy seeks to enhance the competitiveness of such industries in the State and gives special thrust to agro-based industries. It is expected that the operation of the new policy will make the Micro, Small and Medium Industries sector grow at an annual rate of ten percent and generate additional direct and indirect employment opportunities for ten lakh persons during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.

68. As per the new policy, micro enterprises and agro based industries established anywhere in the State will be entitled to incentives. All Small and Medium Industries established in any of the 251 backward blocks of the State will be entitled to avail a package of incentives including capital subsidy, employment subsidy and power tariff subsidy. In addition, additional capital subsidy will be given to entrepreneurs who are women, Adi Dravidars including Arundhatiars, disabled or transgenders. It is expected that thanks to this bouquet of incentives, micro, small and medium industries will be established on a large scale in all parts of the State in the coming years.

69. This Government has been making sufficient financial allocation in the last two years for the development and proper maintenance of roads recognising them as a vital infrastructure for the economic development of the State. As never before, Rs.2,509 crores had been provided in 2006-2007 and Rs.3,957 crores in the current financial year and these allocations were utilised to widen, strengthen and relay 31,698 km of roads.

70. There were only 6,958 km of two-lane roads in the State when this Government assumed charge. In the last two years, 2,380 km of additional length of roads has been double-laned and steps have been taken to make the traffic in major corridors smooth and accident-free. Further, 343 major and minor bridges have been completed in the last two years at a cost of Rs.214 crores.

71. A sum of Rs.2,816 crores has been allocated in this Budget for capital expenditure on improvement of roads and bridges. 16,476 km of roads in the State will be improved, widened and re-laid in the coming financial year. As a result, another 1,350 km of single roads will be converted into double lane roads. In addition, works on 254 major and minor bridges will also be completed in this financial year. Besides, a sum of Rs.855 crores has also been allocated for maintenance of roads. Due to this high allocation, it is now possible to relay all roads in the State once in five years as per the norms of the Indian Road Congress. A sum of Rs.4,179 crores has been provided for the Highways department in this Budget.

72. Having regard to the ever increasing power requirement of the State and its long term energy needs, this Government has taken up several power generation projects to ensure adequate generation of electricity. Works for establishing a new 600 MW unit in the North Chennai Thermal Power Plant at a cost of Rs,2,475 crores are under progress. Tenders have been invited for setting up a 600 MW power plant at Mettur Thermal Power Station. Similarly, it is proposed to augment the generation capacity of Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station by 1,000 MW. All the above projects will be executed by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). Apart from these projects, works have already commenced for establishing a 1,500 MW power plant in North Chennai as a joint venture between TNEB and National Thermal Power Corporation. TNEB has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for establishing a 1,600 MW power plant at Udangudi in Thoothukudi district. In the coming financial year, the power transmission and distribution infrastructure in the State will be improved at a cost of Rs.1,720 crores. Under this, 90 new electrical sub stations will be installed.

73. During 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, State Transport Undertakings were directed to purchase 6,025 new buses and a financial assistance of Rs.477 crores has been provided to them by the Government for this purpose. 5,451 new buses have been purchased and put to use so far. In the interest of the welfare of passengers, another 3,500 new buses will be purchased in the coming financial year at a cost of Rs.482 crores. A sum of Rs.330 crores has been provided as financial assistance by the Government for the purchase of new buses.

74. Tamil Nadu is a highly urbanised State. The Government has been taking determined action to improve the urban infrastructure on a massive scale. Under the centrally assisted Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), till date, 177 projects have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.5,460 crores and works are in progress. Also, 108 projects at an estimated cost of Rs.1,624 crores are being implemented under the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project-III (TNUDP-III). In addition, under the All Town Panchayats Anna Marumalarchi Thittam which was launched last year, developmental works are being undertaken in 140 Town Panchayats at an estimated cost of Rs.70 crores. This scheme will be extended to another 140 Town Panchayats in the coming financial year and works to the tune of Rs.70 crores will be implemented.

75. This Government had taken a policy decision that underground sewerage scheme will be implemented in all municipalities and in the first phase, the scheme will be implemented in all district headquarter towns. Works have been completed in four districts headquarter towns and are under progress in 24 such towns at an estimated cost of Rs.1,362 crores. The schemes for the remaining district headquarter towns of Nagercoil and Ariyalur will be taken up during the coming financial year.

76. Additional resources have been identified for undertaking even more development schemes in urban areas. External assistance to the tune of Rs.300 crores from Japan Bank for International Co-operation and Rs.490 crores from KfW, a German funding agency, will be availed to take up infrastructure projects like drinking water supply and underground sewerage in urban areas.

77. With a view to upgrading the urban roads in the State to international standards, a massive scheme called Tamil Nadu Urban Roads Development Project will be implemented from the coming financial year. Under this scheme, in addition to improving all roads in our Municipal Corporations and Municipalities, they will be provided with pavements, storm water drainage and provision for laying pipes under them. In its first phase, this scheme will cover the roads in Chennai City; Trichy, Tirunelveli, Tiruppur and Madurai Municipal Corporations, and Alandur, Mayiladuthurai, Karur, Inam Karur, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Valasaravakkam Municipalities, where the underground sewerage schemes have already been completed. This scheme will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.1,000 crores and it will have multiple sources of financing which includes Rs.147 crores of arrears of devolution from the State Government, a portion from the assigned revenue payable to Municipal Corporations and Municipalities on account of surcharge on stamp duty and bonds which will be issued by the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Fund (TURIF).

78. Having regard to the development attained by Tiruppur and Erode and the request of the people in these cities, this Government has upgraded them as Municipal Corporations last year. Similarly, in the coming financial year, Vellore, a town of historical importance and the seat of several important educational institutions, will be upgraded as
a Municipal Corporation.

79. Having regard to the development witnessed by the Chennai Metropolitan area and its surroundings and with a view to facilitating smooth traffic of over 30 lakh vehicles plying in Chennai City, a farsighted transportation project has been conceived. Under this project, a Circular High Speed Transportation Corridor will be constructed over the banks of water courses in Chennai City like Adyar river, Buckingham canal, Cooum river and Mambalam canal and it will be connected to the Chennai bypass Road. This 120 km circular corridor will consist of four-lane and six-lane roads. 60 km of this expressway will be constructed by National Highway Authority of India and the remaining 60 km will be constructed by the State Government. As a result of this project, people who travel from the central parts of Chennai to Tambaram,
Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology Corridor and East Coast Road and those vehicles which travel from Chennai to other cities like Tirupathi, Bengaluru and Kolkata will be able to travel much faster. This project, proposed to be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.2,300 crores, will be able to ease the present traffic congestion in the important roads of Chennai City.

Metro Rail Project

80. As yet another solution to the traffic congestion in Chennai, the Government is taking necessary action to implement the Metro Rail Project. The detailed project report has been prepared and action is being taken to obtain the approval and financial assistance from the Union Government and from Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC). A public sector undertaking called ‘Chennai Metro Rail Limited’ has been created to execute this project. A sum of Rs.300 crores has been provided in this Budget as the State’s share for the Metro Rail Project.

Drinking Water

81. During 2007-2008, 9,625 rural habitations have been provided with protected water supply. During 2008-2009, water supply schemes will be implemented in 10,000 rural habitations at a cost of Rs.506 crores. During 2007-2008, water supply improvement schemes for 55 towns have been completed. During 2008-2009, water supply improvement schemes will be implemented in another 60 towns. The Ramanathapuram Combined Water Supply Scheme, for which the foundation stone was laid by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 30.1.2007, has been taken up at a cost of Rs.616 crores and works are under execution on a fast track. This scheme will be completed by
April, 2009.

82. As a result of the sustained efforts of this Government, the Hogenakkal Combined Water Supply Scheme, the only permanent solution for the drinking water problems of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts having a high content of fluoride in groundwater, has received financial assistance from JBIC. On 26.2.2008, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone for implementing this scheme at an estimated cost of Rs.1,330 crores. This project benefiting the people of these two districts will be completed expeditiously.

83. Having regard to the long term drinking water requirements of the growing Chennai city, a desalination plant is being set up at Minjur near Chennai which has the capacity to produce 100 million litres of drinking water per day (MLD). The project on completion will supply of water 15 MLD of water from June 2008 and 100 MLD from September 2008. In order to further address the growing drinking water requirements of Chennai city which is expanding rapidly, another 100 MLD desalination plant is proposed to be set up Nemmeli on East Coast Road at an estimated cost of Rs.994 crores with financial assistance from the Government of India. A detailed project report for this plant has been prepared and sent to Government of India. The Union Government, in its Budget, has allocated Rs.300 crores as its support for this project to start with. The work on this plant will be taken up in the coming financial year.

Housing

84. It was Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar who, in 1974, launched the revolutionary scheme for constructing permanent houses for poor Adi Dravidars for the first time in the entire country. This pioneering scheme, appreciated by Babu Jagajivan Ram the then Union Food Minister, was subsequently extended to the entire country under the name Indira Awaaz Yojana (IAY). Under the IAY scheme, in addition to the Rs.25,000 fixed as the unit cost by the Union Government, the State Government is providing Rs.12,000 per house as grant for the provision of concrete roofing. Having regard to the fact that construction costs have escalated, the Hon’ble Chief Minister had urged an increase in the unit cost of IAY houses in the recent National Development Council Meeting. Accepting this request, the Union Government has increased the cost per house from Rs.25,000 to Rs.35,000 in the recent Union Budget. Similarly, having regard to the increase in cost of concrete roofing, this Government will also enhance the grant for concrete roofing from Rs.12,000 to Rs.20,000. This will cause an additional expenditure of Rs.56 crores for the Government. A sum of Rs.210 crores has been provided in this Budget for this scheme in the form of State share in the unit cost and grant for the roofing cost. About 70,000 houses will be constructed in rural areas at a cost of Rs.55,000 each under the IAY Scheme through the Rural Development Department in the coming financial year. The share of Government of India and State Government in the cost of a house under this scheme will be Rs.26,250 and Rs.28,750 respectively.

85. One lakh and six thousand concrete houses and tenements are being constructed for urban slum dwellers at an estimated cost of Rs.2,787 crores under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. It is also proposed to reconstruct 9,692 dilapidated tenements in Chennai and other cities at a cost of Rs.263.25 crores. 22,000 houses for low income groups, middle income groups and government servants will be constructed in areas around the cities through Tamil Nadu Housing Board at an estimated cost of Rs.2,000 crores. These schemes will be taken up by Tamil Nadu Housing Board under the self financing scheme as well as through public-private partnership.

86. All outstanding dues in respect of housing loans up to Rs.25,000, availed from Urban and Taluk Co-operative Housing Societies by people from economically weaker sections who are unable to repay them, will be waived. For those who availed loans above Rs.25,000 and up to Rs.1 lakh, the penal interest will be fully waived and 50% of the interest will also be waived on repayment of dues. In the case of loanees, who have received loans above Rs.1 lakh and up to Rs.2 lakhs, the penal interest will be fully waived and 25% of the interest will also be waived if they come forward to repay their dues. For the high income groups, who have availed loans above Rs.2 lakhs and up to Rs.7 lakhs also, the penal interest will be fully waived and 10% of the interest will also be waived on repayment of dues. These special concessions will be applicable during the period from 1.4.2008 to 30.9.2008 only.

Rural Development

87. The High Level Committee, headed by the Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration, constituted to study and make recommendations to Government regarding entrustment of additional powers and responsibilities to local bodies, has submitted its report to the Government. The recommendations of this Committee will be examined and an Action Taken Report will be placed in the Legislative Assembly during this current session itself.

88. Under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam launched by this Government, works to the tune of Rs.1,020 crores have been taken up in 5,074 villages of the State in the last two years. A sum of Rs.504 crores is allocated for this scheme in the Budget Estimates for 2008-2009 and will be utilized for undertaking basic infrastructure related works in 2521 village panchayats.

89. Rural roads in the State are being improved by utilizing financial assistance from NABARD and 12^th Finance Commission Grants and under Prime Minister’s Grama Sadak Yojana. After this Government assumed charge, within the first two years, 10,010 km of rural roads have been improved at an estimated cost of Rs.942 crores.

90. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the flagship scheme of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, is being implemented in an exemplary manner in Tamil Nadu. Under this scheme, 82 percent of the beneficiaries are women and 59 percent are Adi Dravidars. An expenditure of Rs.603 crores has been incurred under various works taken up under this scheme so far. In addition to having ensured minimum wages for the beneficiaries, these wages are being paid promptly to the beneficiaries by eliminating the involvement of contractors. The manner in which this scheme is being implemented in Tamil Nadu has become a model for the entire country. During the coming financial year, NREGS works will be implemented in all districts of the State at an estimated cost of Rs.2,000 crores.

91. With a view to involving the community in developmental works and implementing schemes with people’s participation, the Government has revived the ‘Namakku Naame Thittam’ and 1,625 works have been taken up in the current year. A sum of Rs.50 crores is allocated for this scheme in the Budget Estimates for 2008-2009.

92. Many people belonging to Tamil Nadu and living abroad wish to contribute to schemes that will benefit their place of birth and people living therein. On the lines of the Namakku Naame Thittam implemented with the participation of local people and with a view to facilitating Tamils living abroad to make contributions, the Government will set up a Trust to implement various activities as desired by them. They can make substantial donations to this trust and can specify the works they wish to be taken up. These works will be executed with due recognition of the sponsor in these works. The donors will be enabled to know the progress of works sponsored by them through the internet.

93. As announced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, with a view to upholding Thanthai Periyar’s message of equality, this Government has approved the establishment of 95 new Samathuvapurams, each having his statue. These Samathuvapurams, where people belonging to all communities can live together in unity and brotherhood, will be established in the coming three years. Once this work is completed, including the 145 Samathuvapurams already established by this Government, there will be 240 Samathuvapurams with Periyar statues in the State. A sum of Rs.75 crores is allocated for the scheme in the coming financial year.

94. The recommendations of the Third State Finance Commission regarding various issues concerning the local bodies like decentralisation of powers and devolution of funds, along with an Action Taken Report on the steps taken by this Government on these recommendations, have already been placed before this House. The share of devolution has been increased from eight percent to nine percent. During 2006-2007, a sum of Rs.4,278 crores had been provided to local bodies in the form of devolution, assigned revenue and schematic assistance. During 2007-2008, a sum of Rs.4,945 crores has been provided. I am happy to announce that this will be increased to Rs.5,775 crores in 2008-2009. Further, the Government is directly bearing the expenditure on certain functions like primary education, public health and rural drinking water supply. Therefore, I would like to inform that the total financial assistance to local bodies coupled with the Government’s expenditure on certain functions which are supposed to be discharged by the local bodies, amount to Rs.10,165 crores accounting for 31 percent of the State’s own tax revenue.

Revenue Administration

95. The Government has been implementing the scheme for distribution of free house site pattas to poor people without house sites vigorously, setting a target of grant of three lakh house site pattas. This target has been exceeded and 3,98,000 house site pattas have been distributed so far. This Government has also relaxed the minimum number of years one must have resided on Government lands to be eligible for house site pattas from ten years to five years and has also removed the income limit, thereby facilitating all persons to benefit from the scheme.

96. In the coming three years, Rs.20 crores will be provided every year for constructing offices and quarters for District Collectors, District Revenue Officers, Revenue Divisional Officers, Tahsildars, Revenue Inspectors and Village Administrative Officers. A new building for Ariyalur Collectorate and additional buildings for Trichy and Thanjavur Collectorates will be constructed.

97. After assuming charge, this Government had ordered the creation of the Ariyalur district, and this district has now become functional. As promised by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 29.12.2007, a new district with Tiruppur as its headquarters will be carved out of Coimbatore and Erode districts. Accepting the long standing request of the people of Pudukkottai district, two new taluks will be formed with Karambakkudi and Ponnamaravathi as headquarters. In addition, 12 revenue villages which are situated near Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district but are presently in Sankarankoil taluk of Tirunelveli district will be merged with Kovilpatti taluk.

Tsunami Relief Works

98. Before this Government assumed charge, only 8,401 houses had been completed under the scheme for constructing houses for tsunami affected people. This Government has expedited the progress of these works and as on date, 35,268 houses have been completed and the construction of remaining houses are progressing. Apart from this, the Government has also taken up the construction of 3,000 houses abandoned by NGOs and 22,000 new permanent houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Tsunami Rehabilitation package for the people who are currently living in the 52,000 huts which are within 1 km from the sea. The construction of the remaining 30,000 houses will be taken up after obtaining the approval of the World Bank expeditiously.

Welfare of Women

99. The scheme for free distribution of gas stoves and gas connections to families without gas connection is being implemented. This scheme is intended to benefit women from poor and middle income families. As on date, 6.5 lakh families have been given free gas stoves and free gas connection. With a view to implementing this scheme in the coming year also, a provision of Rs.160 crores has been made for distributing another 8 lakh free gas stoves and free gas connections. This scheme will be continued in the coming years also.

100. This Government is implementing the Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy Memorial Maternity Assistance Scheme providing maternity assistance grant of Rs.6,000 at the rate of Rs.1,000 per month, to pregnant women to compensate for the loss of income and to ensure adequate nutrition for them. 7 lakh mothers have benefited under this scheme so far. As per the guidelines of this scheme, pregnant women have to obtain family income certificate to avail maternity assistance. As this is a hardship for them during pregnancy, this Government has decided to relax this condition. From the coming financial year onwards, financial assistance will be given under this scheme to women from poor families based only on the recommendation of the Village Health Nurse who examines the beneficiary during pregnancy and without having to produce an income certificate.

101. This Government has revived the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Memorial Marriage Assistance Scheme and has increased the assistance provided under this scheme from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 from the year 2006-2007. This scheme is of great support for poor families in meeting marriage related expenses and one lakh twenty thousand poor women have benefited so far. Having regard to the increasing marriage expenses, the financial assistance under this scheme will be further increased from Rs.15,000 to Rs.20,000. With a view to benefiting 65,000 poor women, a provision of Rs.130 crores is made for this scheme.

102. In order to encourage and further strengthen the Self Help Group (SHG) movement initiated by the DMK Government in Dharmapuri district in 1989, this Government has been extending various benefits to them. Their training allowance has been increased from Rs.7.50 to Rs.45 per person. 48,514 new Self Help Groups have been formed after this Government assumed charge. 25000 new Self Help Groups with 4 lakh women as members will be formed during 2008-2009.

103. Only if the Self Help Groups are provided with the revolving fund, they will be able to avail bank credit and operate successfully by engaging in income generating activities. 1,50,000 Self Help Groups out of the 3,63,000 Self Help Groups in the State have not received revolving fund even though they have acquired the eligibility for the same. With a view to benefiting these Self Help Groups by helping them engage in economic activity, the Government will provide revolving fund to the tune of Rs.150 crores to all the remaining 1,50,000 Self Help Groups in the coming financial year. About 30 lakh women who are members of these Self Help Groups will benefit from this initiative.

104. This Government is implementing the World Bank aided ‘Vazhndhu Kattuvom’ Project for the benefit of the poorest of the poor, destitutes, disabled and women from poor families. This Rs.717 crore project is being implemented in 2,469 village panchayats of the 70 backward blocks in the State. So far, poor persons from 1,117 village panchayats have been selected as beneficiaries. 2,116 new Self Help Groups and 1,163 Self Help Groups for the disabled have been formed. In the coming financial year, a sum of Rs.114 crores has been allocated for this scheme implemented for the benefit of the poor.

105. It was the DMK Government that had secured equal property rights and ensured 33% reservation in local bodies for women. As a further step in this regard, the State Commission for Women working to promote the welfare of women in the State, will be conferred statutory status. Necessary Bill for this purpose will be introduced in this session of the Legislative Assembly.