1. 50.             As a successful outcome of the efforts of this Government to increase employment opportunities by encouraging entrepreneurs during the past three years, entrepreneurs have come forward to establish 29 new industries with an investment of Rs.37,595 crores with an employment potential of  about two lakh persons. Of these new investments, eight industries have already commenced production. Particularly in this short period itself, Tamil Nadu has emerged as a leading state in our country in important industries such as manufacturing of automobiles and electronic goods. Global majors in heavy vehicles production like Daimler-Hero, Ashok Leyland-Nissan, Caterpillar and in automobile parts like Delphi, Allison have come forward to establish industries in Tamil Nadu. In the same manner, leading companies like Dell Computers, Motorola, Samsung and Nokia-Siemens networks have established industries for production of electronic goods.
2. 51.             With a view to spur industrial development in southern districts, this Government is providing structured package of assistance that is being extended to investments above Rs.250 crores in other districts of the State to even the investments exceeding Rs.50 crores in these districts. As a result of these efforts, ATC Tires company is establishing tyre manufacturing unit at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district. In addition, leading companies like TVS Srichakra Tyres and
   Elgi Tread have come forward to establish industries in the same place and  Caparo Engineering and Fenner India  at Nillakottai in Dindigul district.
3. 52.             In addition to encouraging entrepreneurs to start industries, this Government will continue to improve the basic infrastructure facilities required for the development of these industries. The approach roads to industrial estates in the State will be developed at a cost of Rs.10 crores. Dormitories having facilities to accommodate 1,000 workers each will be constructed at Sriperumpudur and Tirupur which are having large number of industrial workers.
4. 53.             This Government will definitely take necessary steps to provide employment to at least one person from the families giving land to an extent of one acre and above for industrial parks to be established by SIPCOT, in the industries being established in that area. For this purpose, SIPCOT will establish skill development training centres in these industrial parks for skill enhancement of the youth belonging to such families.
5. 54.             The Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited, a well performing public sector undertaking has embarked upon an expansion at a cost of Rs.1,000 crores. On completion in June, 2010, the paper production capacity of this plant will go up from 2.55 lakh tonnes to 4 lakh tonnes per annum.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

1. 55.              With a view to encouraging micro, small and medium enterprises, for the first time in our country, this Government has come out with a separate policy for these industries. A provision of Rs.30 crores has been made in this Budget for providing capital subsidy to the micro, small and medium enterprises being established in industrially backward blocks in the State as per this policy. In addition, a sum of Rs.10 crores has been allocated for value added tax (VAT) refund concession.

Information Technology

1. 56.             This Government is taking all efforts to make Tamil Nadu a leading state in our country in Information Technology and to enable the people living in all parts of the State to realize  benefits of this growth. This Government has announced a new Information Technology Policy providing various concessions to IT companies. The Information Technology Park being established at a cost of Rs.380 crores at Coimbatore will be completed by coming September. Necessary steps are being taken to establish Information Technology Parks in Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Salem and Vellore.  Due to these efforts, software export from our state has increased to 28,490 crores in 2007-2008 from 13,615 crores in 2005-2006.
2. 57.             By consolidating all basic information and statistics of various departments and providing the same together with all other services through Internet, a State Data Centre is being set up at a cost of Rs.56 crores. Tamil Nadu only holds the distinction of being the first state in the entire country to establish a State Wide Area Network. Under this Wide Area Network district, revenue divisional, taluk and block headquarters have been connected to the State capital.
3. 58.             Under the scheme for providing free colour televisions, one of the promises in the Election Manifesto of this Government, 1,04,42,500 colour television sets have been ordered to be procured in a transparent manner in four phases and are being distributed. A sum of Rs.500 crores has been allocated in the coming financial year for distribution of 25 lakh colour televisions to the remaining families having no colour television.

Development of Roads

1. 59.             Bearing in mind that good quality road facilities are essential for day to day use of the public as well as for overall economic growth, this Government is implementing improvement works by allocating more funds for road development and maintenance in the last three years. During the period of 5 years from 2001 to 2006, road development works to the tune of Rs.4,328 crores and road maintenance works to the tune of Rs.1,534 crores were undertaken. In comparison, I would like to inform that during last three years alone, funds have been allocated to the tune of Rs.6,617 crores for road development works and to the tune of Rs.2,503 crores for road maintenance. 
2. 60.             After this Government assumed charge, development of 45,943 Km of roads has been undertaken so far. 4,730 Km of roads have been widened as double lane roads. In addition to this, 551 minor and major bridges have been constructed at a cost of Rs.577 crores.  A sum of Rs.3,087 has crores been provided for the  capital expenditure on road development and bridge works and  a sum of Rs.880 crores has been provided for road maintenance works for the financial year 2009-2010. Utilizing these allocations, besides developing 12,500 Km of roads, about 1,000 Km of roads will be converted into double lane roads and 194 major and minor bridges will be completed.
3. 61.              You are all aware that during the previous tenures of DMK Government, many major bridges like Anna Fly over at Chennai, two level bridge at Tirunelveli, three level bridge at Coimbatore and bridges across Cauvery at Kulithalai and Thirumanur were constructed.  Similarly, in the last three years, this Government has sanctioned a construction of many major railway overbridges at a cost of Rs.1,730 crores.  A sum of Rs.400 crores has been provided for these works.
4. 62.             Under Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project, road upgradation works, construction of bypass roads and enhanced road maintenance works are being undertaken in different parts of the State at a cost of Rs.2,442 crores, with the assistance from World Bank. Upgradation works for the two major components of this project, namely, Arcot-Tiruvannamalai-Vridhachalam-Tiruvarur road and Nagapattinam-Ramanathapuram- Thoothukudi stretch of the East Coast Road will be completed in the coming financial year.  The remaining stretch of the East Coast Road from Thoothukudi to Kanyakumari spanning 120 Km will be widened and upgraded as double lane road at an estimated cost of Rs.190 crores.  This work will be taken up in the coming financial year.
5. 63.             Having regard to the development of suburban areas of Chennai City and increasing traffic congestion, this Government has decided to build Outer Ring Road connecting major national highways, namely, Chennai-Trichy highway, Chennai-Bengaluru highway and Chennai-Kolkata highway. In the first phase of this project, works for constructing the 30 Km long road between Vandalur-Nazarathpet-Nemilicheri will be taken up at a cost of Rs.858 crores in the coming financial year. A sum of Rs.100 crores has been allocated for this work in this Budget.

Electricity

1. 64.             Considering the fact that there has been significant increase in the power requirement of the State and that it is likely to increase further in future, this Government is implementing projects for installing additional power generation capacity in our state. Works for establishing power stations of 600 MW capacity at Mettur and 1200 MW capacity in North Chennai are under progress. Works for establishing 1600 MW capacity power station   at Udangudi in Thoothukudi district in joint venture with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) will commence soon. In the coming financial year, the power generation capacity of Tamil Nadu will increase to 11,533 MW on commissioning of Koodankulam Atomic Power Plant and expansion project of Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
2. 65.             The facility for online payment of electricity bill enabling the consumers in Chennai City to pay the bills through internet has commenced in this financial year.   In the coming financial year, steps will be taken to extend this facility to other parts of the State. 11,284 transformers and 45,911 km of electric lines will be newly laid at a cost of Rs.447 crores and about 5.5 lakh rural households will be electrified under Rajiv Gandhi rural electrification scheme. A sum of Rs.1,251 crores has been allocated in the Budget towards  free connections to huts and places of worship and subsidized connections for homes and local bodies.

Transport

1. 66.             After this Government assumed charge, in the last three years, 9,248 new buses have been purchased by State Transport Undertakings and put into use.  A sum of Rs.729 crores has been provided as assistance for the Government to the State Transport Undertakings for purchasing these buses.  In the coming financial year, another 3,500 new buses will be purchased with the assistance of the State Government as well as the Union Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. A sum of Rs.250 crores has been allocated in this Budget as financial assistance by the State Government for this purpose.

Municipal Administration

1. 67.             Tamil Nadu is the most urbanized state in the country. Having regard to this fact, this Government is according high priority for the development of infrastructure in urban areas. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, which is being jointly implemented by the Union and State Governments and the local bodies, 223 projects to the tune of Rs.8,364 crores have been sanctioned so far and works are underway. In addition, under the World Bank aided Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project –III, 98 projects are being implemented at a cost of Rs.1,374 crores.
2. 68.             With a view to ensuring that local bodies are able to mobilize adequate financial resources for taking up necessary infrastructural development works in urban areas, financial assistance of Rs.345 crores from Japan International Cooperation Agency and Rs.500 crores from KfW, a German funding agency has been obtained and  11 projects to the tune of Rs.732 crores have been sanctioned. A sum of Rs.170 crores has been allocated in this Budget for this purpose.
3. 69.             As per the decision of this Government to implement underground sewerage schemes in all municipalities in the State, in the first phase, these works have been completed in six district  headquarters and steps have been taken to implement this scheme in other district headquarters also. In the next phase, these works will be taken up in other important municipalities. Underground sewerage schemes will be taken up during the next financial year in Karaikudi, Sattur, Mannargudi, Pollachi, Kodaikanal, Periyakulam, Palani, Keelakarai, Sivakasi and Melur municipalities at a cost of Rs.408 crores.
4. 70.             Under the Anaithu Peruratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam works at an estimated cost of Rs.140 crores have been taken up in 280 Town panchayats so far. In the coming financial year, works will be taken up in another 140 Town panchayats at a cost of Rs.70 crores.

Metro Rail Project

1. 71.             On account of tireless efforts of this Government, project approval and financial sanction has been received for the Chennai Metro Rail Project from the Union Government as well as Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) within a very short period of time as compared to other Metro projects being implemented in India. This major project will be implemented solely through a public sector company, ‘Chennai Metro Rail Limited’. Out of the total allocation of Rs.14,600 crores for this project, Rs.11,680 crores will be the share of the State Government and Rs.2,920 crores will be the share of the Union Government. Out of the State Governments share, Rs.8,646 crores will be received as loan from JICA and Rs.3,034 crores will be met from Tamil Nadu Government’s funds. For this project, a provision of Rs.600 crores has been made as State Government’s share in this Budget.
2. 72.             Tenders for the first work of the Metro Rail Project, namely the viaduct from Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar has been finalized. Nevertheless, as announced in the Governor’s address, the investigation for linking Thiruvottiyur under this project is to be taken up shortly. Foundation stone for this project will be laid by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar soon.

Drinking Water

1. 73.             As announced in the last Budget, out of 10,255 rural habitations to be provided with protected drinking water supply in the year 2008-2009, drinking water supply has been provided to 6,092 habitations so far. Remaining works will be completed within this financial year.  In addition, protected drinking water supply will be provided to 8,000 rural habitations at a cost of Rs.700 crores in the coming financial year. In the current financial year, works for 30 combined water supply schemes and water supply improvement schemes for 45 towns will be completed. Besides, 30 combined water supply schemes and drinking water improvement schemes for 50 towns will be undertaken in the coming financial year.
2. 74.             Financial assistance for Hogenakkal Combined Water Supply Scheme estimated to cost Rs.1,330 crores has been obtained from Japan International Co-operation Agency. As announced earlier, this scheme will be commissioned within the stipulated time. A sum of Rs.200 crores has been allocated for this scheme in this Budget. Works for the Ramanathapuram Combined Water Supply Scheme, envisaged for addressing the drinking water needs of dry areas of Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Pudukkottai districts at an estimated cost of Rs.616 crores, will be completed by April this year. Totally, an unprecedented sum of Rs.1,064 crores has been allocated for  water supply schemes.

Housing

1. 75.             Under Indira Awas Yojana, the Union Government had enhanced the unit cost per house from Rs.25,000 to Rs.35,000 last year. In this, the share of Union Government is Rs.26,250. In addition to the State Government’s share of Rs.8,750, the subsidy provided by the State Government for concrete roofing has also been enhanced from Rs.12,000 to Rs.20,000 by this Government.  Thus, the share of the Union Government is Rs.26,250 and the share of the  State Government is Rs.28,750 in the total cost of house constructed under this scheme. 70,000 houses are being constructed this year in rural areas at a cost of Rs.55,000 per house. With the objective of providing permanent houses to the larger number of poor people, in the coming financial year an unprecedented number of 1,35,000 concrete houses will be constructed in rural areas at a cost of Rs.742 crores. The share of Union Government in this great compassionate scheme is Rs.354 crores.  A sum of Rs.390 crores has been allocated in this Budget as State Government’s share.
2. 76.             Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, 1,05,373 concrete houses and multistoreyed tenements are being constructed. In the coming financial year, under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme 21,000 new houses will be additionally constructed in urban areas at a cost of Rs.441 crores.

Rural Development

1. 77.             This Government is committed to entrust additional responsibilities and provide necessary powers to the local bodies for enabling them to improve basic amenities and play their due role in development of the State. In this regard, all necessary actions have been taken as per the recommendations of a High Level Committee headed by Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration.
2. 78.             Under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, a unique achievement of this Government, basic amenities and developmental works have been undertaken in 7,585 village panchayats at a cost of Rs.1,524 crores in the past three years. A sum of Rs.509 crores has been allocated for this scheme in the Budget 2009-2010. Under this scheme, basic infrastructure will be improved in 2,511 more village panchayats in the coming financial year.
3. 79.             The roads in village panchayats, where the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam is implemented , are  being improved with the financial  assistance from NABARD. Under this, sanction has been accorded and works are underway for improvement of roads in 5,000 village panchayats at a cost of Rs.884 crores. In the coming financial year, roads in 2500 more village panchayats will be improved at a cost of Rs.401 crores. A sum of Rs.350 crores has been allocated for these road improvement works in this Budget.
4. 80.             The “Namakku naame thittam” which enables people to choose the development schemes required by them and get them executed through their contribution has been revived by this Government.  3,333 works have been taken up under this scheme so far. A provision of Rs.50 crores has been made as Government’s contribution in this Budget.
5. 81.             As announced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar that 95 Samathuvapurams with Thanthai Periyar’s statue will be established over a period of three years to spread his ideals of equality, 29 Samathuvapurams are being established.  In the coming financial year 29 more samathuvapurams will be established.  A sum of Rs.75 crores has been allocated in this Budget for this purpose.
6. 82.             Tamil Nadu is a frontline state in implementing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the flagship scheme of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government under the leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Thiru Manmohan Singh and Tmt.Sonia Gandhi. Prompt disbursement of wages to the beneficiaries and ensuring minimum wages to all those working under the scheme have been acclaimed widely. It is a matter of great satisfaction to note that three districts of Tamil Nadu, namely Dindigul, Sivagangai and Cuddalore find place among 22 districts at the National level selected for best performance under this scheme.   A sum of Rs.1,412 crores has been disbursed as wages so far under this scheme which has greatly  benefited the downtrodden Adi dravidars and poor women in our  society.  This scheme will be implemented in all the districts at an outlay of Rs.1,750 crores in the coming financial year. 
7. 83.             As announced by this Government while accepting the recommendations of the Third State Finance Commission the devolution of funds to local bodies will be increased from the present 9 % to 9.5 % in the coming  financial year.  Due to this, local bodies will additionally receive Rs.187 crores in the coming financial year.  A sum of Rs.6,241 crores has been provided in the current financial year to local bodies in the form of devolution, assigned revenue and schematic assistance.  In the coming financial year, this will be increased to Rs.6,928 crores.  Hon’ble Members may note that including expenditure incurred by the Government for providing basic services relating to primary education, water supply and public health on behalf of the local bodies, the total amount incurred by the State Government   as direct financial assistance to local bodies and towards expenditure incurred by the State Government for the functions to be discharged by these bodies account for about 31% of the State’s own tax revenue.

Revenue Administration

1. 84.             Under the existing system of  land revenue collection, which has been in vogue for a long period, Local Cess, Local Cess Surcharge and Water Cess are being collected along with the land revenue. As this tax serves as proof of possession of farmers over their land holdings, hereafter only a nominal sum shall be levied as ‘Land Revenue’.. By simplifying the present cumbersome system, land revenue of Rs.2 per acre of dry land as against an average levy of Rs.15 per acre at present and Rs.5 per acre of wet land as against an average levy of Rs.50 per acre at present, shall be levied from the coming fasli year. Farmers shall not be burdened with any other levy such as Local Cess and Local Cess Surcharge. About 50 lakh farmers will benefit from this measure.
2. 85.             As announced by this Government earlier, works are under progress for construction of buildings and quarters required for revenue department at a cost of Rs.45 crores.  For these works, in the coming financial year, Rs.34 crores has been allocated.  Totally, the allocation for revenue department has increased to Rs.2,416 crores in this Budget.

Welfare of  women

1. 86.             With a view to enabling pregnant women to have adequate nutrition, this Government is implementing Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy Memorial Maternity Assistance Scheme providing Rs.6,000 as maternity assistance to them.  Having regard to the fact that pregnant women face difficulties in getting income certificate as per the earlier guidelines, this Government has ordered that they can get maternity assistance based on the recommendations of the village health nurse even without theincome certificate.  Under this scheme, so far 10 lakhs mothers have been benefited.  A sum of Rs.250 crores has been allocated for this scheme to benefit over 4 lakh mothers in the coming financial year. 
2. 87.             After this Government assumed charge, besides reviving Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Memorial Marriage Assistance Scheme, the assistance amount has been doubled from Rs.10,000/- to Rs.20,000/- .  About two lakh poor girls have been benefited from this scheme so far which has been lighting up the lives of poor girls.  A sum of Rs.150 crores has been allocated in this Budget to enable 75,000 poor girls to benefit under this scheme in the coming financial year.
3. 88.             With a view to helping women belonging to poor and middle income families, this Government has launched a scheme for distributing free gas stove and connection to those who do not have the same.  Free gas stoves and gas connections have been given to 10,84,866 families under the scheme so far. A sum of Rs.140 crores has been allocated in this Budget to provide 6 lakh gas stoves and connections in the coming financial year.
4. 89.             The Self Help Group movement started by this Government in the year 1989, has spread like a banyan tree and grown into a mammoth movement in our State with 62 lakh members in 3,91,000 self help groups.  Among these 2,74,000 groups are functioning in rural areas and 1,17,000 groups are functioning in urban areas.  In order to encourage them, besides giving revolving funds to urban self help groups for the first time in our State, revolving fund is also being given to all eligible self help groups at a cost of Rs.150 crores.  In this context, it has been brought to this Government’s notice that many women belonging to poor families are yet to join and benefit from this movement.  In order to enable all women living below poverty line to join and benefit from the self help group movement, it has been estimated that one lakh more new self help groups need to be formed in our State. For this to happen in the next 2 years, 50,000 new self help groups will be formed in 2009-2010 and another 50,000 new self help groups will be formed in 2010-2011.  After this is accomplished, Tamil Nadu will have the distinction of enrolling all women living below poverty line in Self help group movement.
5. 90.             This Government has realized that self help groups that are members of Panchayat Level Federation (PLF) could easily avail bank loan and take up beneficial economic activities. Therefore, this Government has established PLFs and has been providing necessary assistance and skill upgradation training in the past three years.  With a view to encouraging these federations further, 1,000 best performing Panchayat Level Federations will be selected and Rs.one lakh each will be given to them as incentive. A sum of Rs.10 crores has been allocated for this purpose in this Budget.

Welfare of Elderly and Destitutes

1. 91.             Soon after assuming charge, this Government has increased monthly assistance given to elderly and destitutes from Rs.200 to Rs.400.  Further, the Indira Gandhi National Old age Pension Scheme for all old aged persons living below poverty line is also being effectively implemented jointly with Union Government.  Under these schemes 7,39,541 elders and 7,90,041 destitutes are getting benefited.  Due to the benefits extended by this Government in the past three years, expenditure on pension to old aged persons and destitute will increase to Rs.911 crores in the year 2009-2010 as against Rs.303 crores in 2005-06.
2. 92.             National Centre for Geriatrics Research, having facilities for providing necessary special treatment to elderly and undertaking research regarding old age ailments, will be established at Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar at a cost of Rs.112 crores with the assistance from the Union Government.

Welfare of the Disabled

1. 93.             This Government has enacted an Act and established a separate welfare board thereby facilitating continuous flow of various benefits to the disabled. The monthly assistance for disabled has been increased from Rs.200 to Rs.400 and the monthly assistance for severely disabled has been increased from Rs.200 to Rs.500, benefiting 10,000 disabled. Besides this monthly assistance of Rs.500 is being given to those affected by Muscular Dystrophy.   In the coming financial year motor fitted sewing machines will be given free of cost to enable disabled persons get self employment.  For providing various benefits to the disabled, a sum of Rs.75 crores has been allocated in this Budget.

Welfare of Mentally Challenged persons

1. 94.             By removing restriction as to number of beneficiaries and income limit for providing assistance to the mentally challenged persons who are not even able to take care of themselves, about 20,000 mentally challenged persons from our state are getting Rs.500 as monthly assistance.  Financial assistance is being given to Non-Governmental Organizations for providing early intervention training and imparting basic education to them through special schools. 

Welfare of Transgenders

1. 95.             With a view to alleviating the sufferings of the transgendered, this Government has established a separate welfare board and is providing various benefits such as family cards and  employment training.  Besides this, assistance is being provided to them to start a business either individually or by forming a self help group. Group houses will be constructed for the trangendered without housing at an estimated cost of Rs.one crore in the coming financial year.

Welfare of Weavers

1. 96.             In order to provide additional employment opportunities to handloom weavers, scheme for the distribution of dhotis and sarees to poor people on the eve of the Pongal festival will be continued in the coming year also.  A sum of Rs.256 crores has been allocated in this Budget for this purpose.  In addition to establishing a separate welfare board for handloom weavers, pension for elderly weavers has been increased from Rs.200 to Rs.400. 
2. 97.             The scheme of this Government for providing free power supply to handloom and power loom weavers will continue without any impediment. In addition to this, interest subsidy to weavers co-operative societies has been revived and interest rate has been reduced from 12% to 8%. A sum of Rs.90 crores has been allocated for these schemes.

Welfare of Fishermen

1. 98.             This Government has special concern for the welfare of fishermen.  This Government is implementing the scheme for providing financial assistance to the fisherman families who have gone missing while fishing and the scheme of providing assistance to fisherman families during the period of ban on fishing in the sea.  A sum of Rs.42 crores is allocated in this Budget for these schemes and for providing relief during monsoon periods.
2. 99.             37,947 bicycles and 1,20,306 life saving jackets have been provided to Tsunami affected fishermen.  In addition to this, a sum of Rs.30 crores has been provided for improvement works of fishing harbours and fish landing centres.  Besides, a new fishing harbour will be established at Thengaipatnam in Kanyakumari district at a cost of Rs.40 crores.

Welfare of Handicraft Workers

1. 100.        This Government is providing various benefits to handicraft workers by establishing a separate welfare board for them. With a view to providing good quality raw materials to them at fair prices to make handicrafts, a raw materials bank will be established at Swamimalai.

Welfare of Small Traders

1. 101.        This Government has issued credit cards and organized small traders into Self help groups and enabled them to avail loan from co-operative banks. This Government will establish a separate welfare board for small traders like hawkers, those selling goods either on pavements or by carrying them in baskets or in carts and petty shopkeepers.

Welfare of Journalists

1. 102.        This Government has enhanced the pension of retired journalists and the family pension of their families. In addition, by providing Rs.one crore, this Government has ensured that journalists suffering from severe ailments get financial assistance for treatment from journalists welfare fund. The working journalists have been allotted house sites at Chennai, Vellore, Trichy, Dindigul and Salem at concessional rates. In addition, their other requests will be examined and necessary assistance granted.

Welfare of Unorganized Labourers

1. 103.        By reviving the welfare boards established by this Government during 1996-2001, which were abolished subsequently, 39 lakh members have been registered and welfare benefits are being provided to them. Unorganised labourers have received assistance to the tune of Rs.105 crores so far through these boards, functioning under Labour Welfare department. A sum of Rs.30 crores has been allocated in this Budget as the financial assistance of the Government for this purpose.

Welfare of Palm Workers

1. 104.        This Government has provided financial assistance to palm artisans for purchasing tools and has established a separate welfare board for them.  A Neera chilling plant will be provided to Neera Sales Centre at Sayalgudi in Ramanathapuram district In the coming financial year.

Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare