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The
New Indian Express
Work out microplans on 15-point programme, CM tells Collectors CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday asked the district collectors to set out microplans under each of the 15-point programme, which constituted the road map of the government in the next three and a half years, and work tirelessly towards the attainment of set goals. Inaugurating the three-day conference of the district collectors and police officers at the Secretariat, she said the 15-point programme had been drawn out based on her vision to make the state the best in every sphere. She claimed that the agriculture and allied sectors which contributed 17 per cent of the GSDP but which supported 62 per cent of the population had faced a slowdown during the last DMK. With a view to making a significant impact on rural poverty and giving a new momentum to growth in the primary sector, her government had set out three key programmes. The comprehensive wasteland development programme (CWDP) had been launched to make vast stretches of wastelands productive. The project should be operational in all the districts by this month end. The collectors should immediately complete the process of identification of wastelands in large blocks, besides selecting suitable corporate houses with a proper agri-business plan for implementing the project. ``Monitor the plans intensively so that they are brought to fruition quickly'', she noted. Similarly, attempts should be made to bring back those wastelands, which were left as fallow by individual farmers for various reasons, under plough. The CMDP and the rain water harvesting programme could be integrated so that such lands could be brought alive with productive economic activity. The CM also wanted the inter-connection of agro-industry and the New Anna Marumalarchi Thittam. New agro-industrial units with financial support from commercial banks and the TIIC must be encouraged to start operations within the next 6 months. PLASTICS: The environmental hazards posed by the throwaway plastics, she said that before Pongal these plastic wastes should be collected and disposed of in a separate land-fill. The collectors should launch a plan of action involving local bodies, NGOs and the public for this. The collectors should also take the initiative to have the garbage separated at source into bio-degradable wastes and other wastes. On the women self-help groups, she wanted the enrollment of 15 lakh more families, who were below the poverty line and make them become a part of this movement in the next four years. Presently, 20 lakh women had joined the movement. She wanted the collectors to take the lead in organising skill development and vocational training for 50,000 women this year. The entrepreneurship development programme which was to cover 1.25 lakh women during the current year would assist these self-help groups to organise their activities better. The CM advised the collectors to deal with drinking water shortage which might emerge in view of unfavorable monsoon this year. While the South-West monsoon was not favourable, the North-East monsoon which began very well had tapered off quickly leaving many districts with an overall deficiency in rainfall. Though the NE monsoon had revived in the last few days, ``We cannot be sure how long it would last.'' Jayalalithaa urged the collectors to monitor the performance of the local bodies and assured proper release of funds for the rural development works. |
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