31. This Government will accord priority for providing housing to low-income and middle class families in urban areas. One lakh new houses are being constructed in urban areas in the State under the various urban development schemes. Having regard to the housing needs of people living in Municipal Corporations areas, housing schemes will be implemented in areas adjoining these Corporations through Public-Private Partnership. In addition, this Government will permit a higher floor space index (FSI) to builders who comply with the condition of earmarking a certain part of their housing projects for low-income groups.

32. Hogenakkal Combined Water Supply Scheme is the only permanent solution for the drinking water problems of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts which have a high level of flouride in the ground water. Thanks to the determined efforts of this Government, the Union Government recommended the scheme for financial assistance from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). A team from JBIC has visited these districts and conducted studies about this scheme. The approval for the scheme will be obtained based on the final negotiations likely to take place shortly.

33. Air traffic has witnessed a phenomenal growth in our State. Hence, it is essential to expand and modernise the existing airports at Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai and Thoothukudi and establish new airports at Vellore and Salem. This Government would continue to urge the Government of India to accord high priority for these airports.

35. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the flagship scheme of the Union Government, is currently being implemented in 10 districts of the State. The Social Audit Team, which has studied the implementation of this scheme in all states in the country, has concluded that the scheme is being admirably implemented in Tamil Nadu. The team has commended the facts that workers are getting a daily wage of Rs.80 and that unlike in any other State, 82% of the beneficiaries are women in Tamil Nadu. In pursuance of the Union Government’s decision to extend this scheme to all districts in the country, this scheme will be implemented in all districts of the State from the next financial year.

36. The Leather and Textile industries in the State have sought central assistance to establish Zero Discharge Common Effluent Treatment Plants to prevent the pollution of rivers and water bodies. We request the Union Government for early sanction of central assistance for these schemes. The State Government will also extend necessary financial assistance for this scheme.

37. This Government is of the firm conviction that economic development of the southern districts alone can ease the social tensions in this region and has taken a number of initiatives for their industrial development. The hurdles in the establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Nanguneri have been overcome and a Multi Product Special Economic Zone will be established soon in an area of 2,500 acres. Similarly, an IT Special Economic Zone is being established by ELCOT at Gangaikondan. ELCOT is also developing IT Parks in and around Madurai. Land has already been allotted to IT Companies both in Gangaikondan and Madurai. It is expected that these initiatives will generate large scale employment to the unemployed educated youth in this region and will contribute to the economic development of the region.

38. This Government has always supported women to get their rights in full and play their rightful role in our society. All are aware that it was this Government that secured the rights of women by according them equal property rights and reservation in Government jobs and Local Bodies. We hope the UPA Government, led by Dr.Manmohan Singh under the able guidance of Tmt.Sonia Gandhi, will soon be able to enact the legislation giving reservation for women in State Legislatures and the Parliament.

39. This Government is proud of the fact that Tamil Nadu has become the pioneer in the country by implementing the scheme of providing maternity assistance of Rs.6,000/- for pregnant women to enable them to get the much needed nutrition and as a compensation for the loss of income during pregnancy. Five lakh women have availed this assistance to the tune of Rs.300 crores so far. In addition, with a view to addressing the malnutrition suffered by children, this Government is implementing the scheme of providing three eggs a week to about 70 lakhs children in the age group of 2 to 15 years. This Government would urge the Union Government to adopt these model schemes as Central Schemes and implement them in all states in the country.

40. The Self Help Group scheme initiated by this Government in 1989 in Dharmapuri district has now become a mass movement for the economic empowerment of women in our State. For the first time, this Government has extended the Revolving Fund assistance, provided only to rural areas so far, to the Self Help Groups in urban areas also. About 3.6 lakh Self Help Groups are operating in this State covering 58 lakh women. These Self Help Groups have availed credit of Rs.2,566 crores from banks, in addition to their combined savings of Rs.1,639 crores.

41. The scheme for providing monthly assistance to unemployed youth has so far benefited 3,53,448 persons. Recognising the fact that only skill development can enhance the employability of these youth, this Government has been implementing a variety of training programmes for them. This Government will pay attention to improving their general knowledge, proficiency in computer and soft skills like spoken English and ability to face interviews. Taking into account the increasing need for trained heavy vehicle drivers, the Government will launch a massive programme for imparting training in heavy vehicle driving through the State Transport Undertakings.

42. In fulfillment of the promise made in the DMK manifesto, this Government had enhanced the monthly pension for the elderly, destitutes and widows from Rs.200/- to Rs.400/- during 2006-2007. Now the Government of India has launched the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme for all old aged persons below the poverty line. In our state, the Chief Minister launched this scheme on 19.11.2007, the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister late Tmt.Indira Gandhi. Thanks to implementation of this scheme, about 10 lakh old aged persons above 65 years, living below the poverty line in our State will be benefited irrespective of whether they have support from male children or not.

43. During the previous year, this Government had increased the monthly assistance for disabled persons from Rs.200 to Rs.400 and from Rs.200 to Rs.500 in respect of severely disabled persons. In a gesture never done before, this Government had also sanctioned monthly assistance of Rs.500 for mentally challenged persons, who are not in a position to take care of themselves, without any restriction based on income limit or the number of beneficiaries. 30,000 such persons have benefited under this scheme so far. In addition, the Government has also taken necessary action to provide special education and vocational training to them.

44. This Government has always been concerned about the welfare of the transgenders, who have been shunned by the society and treated as a kind of handicapped. Recognising the various problems encountered by the transgenders, including that of social acceptance, this Government is implementing a number of beneficial measures like issue of ration cards and free surgeries in Government hospitals for them. As an expression of this Government’s empathy towards the transgenders, a separate welfare board will be established for them.

45. As never witnessed before in our State, or for that matter in the entire country, this Government has been providing marriage and maternity assistance to women from poor families. This Government will not tolerate the wrongful acts of middlemen and some officials trying to make gains while disbursing these benefits. The Government will take strict action against such persons.

46. This Government has always accorded priority to the welfare of the workers in the unorganised sector. During 1996-2001, it was this Government which had constituted various unorganised labour welfare boards and granted various benefits to workers in the unorganised sector. Though these boards were abolished subsequently, this Government has revived them. During the last one and half years, 2,20,043 workers in the unorganised sector have received various welfare benefits to the tune of Rs.56 crores through these boards.

47. This Government has formed a separate welfare board for the socio-economic development of folk artists. The Tamil Mayyam – ‘Chennai Sangamam’ arts festival has been conducted successfully throughout Chennai city during the last two years, receiving great appreciation from the public. With a view to giving fillip to our folk arts, encouraging the folk artists and nurturing their zeal, this Government will provide its co-operation for the conduct of this festival all over the State, in a phased manner during the coming years.

48. The number of people from Tamil Nadu who go abroad for work has witnessed a sharp increase in the past few years. With a view to removing their hardships, a State High Level Advisory Committee chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister will be constituted.

49. Considering the continuing misery of Srilankan Tamils, this Government urges the Union Government that an amicable political solution should be found at the earliest to this long standing problem.

50. This Government has implemented a number of welfare measures for weavers such as enhanced pension and free power supply. With a view to providing them regular employment, this Government will continue to implement the scheme of supply of free dhotis and sarees to poor people numbering 3.28 crores in the State at a cost of Rs.256 crores per year.

51. Welfare of fishermen has always been accorded high priority by this Government. A separate welfare board for fishermen has been established. This Government is also implementing a scheme to assist the families of fishermen who had gone into the sea for fishing and were found missing. This Government will continue to take all efforts to remove the difficulties faced by our fishermen while fishing in the sea.

52. This Government will extend its full support for the socio-economic development of sanitary workers and those who were engaged in the abhorrent practice of manual scavenging. It is only in this context that this Government has established a separate welfare board for them. This Government will continue to implement schemes for their rehabilitation and alternative livelihood.

53. There is a need to give special concessions to Arundhatiars, as they are still at the lowest rung in terms of socio-economic status. This Government proposes to consult all political parties and arrive at a decision on the possibility of providing special reservation for them within the quota of reservation for Scheduled Castes.

54. This Government recognises the fact that securing high end employment opportunities in all sectors by Adi Dravidars and Tribal Communities is vital for their socio-economic development. With a view to enabling Adi Dravidar and Tribal youth to benefit from the current employment boom in the economy, the Government has earmarked the entire Special State Assistance of Rs.25 crores during 2007-2008, exclusively for the training programmes of Adi Dravidar and Tribal youth.

55. Having regard to the educational and social backwardness of minorities, this Government has provided separate reservation for them in education and employment. In addition, a separate Directorate has been created to pay special attention to welfare of minorities.

56. All policies and programmes of this Government are always centred around the objective of social justice. All are aware that the DMK Government, inheriting the great legacy of the Justice Party, has always been a champion of social justice. This Government would continue to strive for reservation in Central Government educational institutions and employment in private sector.

57. The Chief Minister has accepted the request of Thiru K.Veeramani, General Secretary, Dravidar Kazhagam that a 95 feet tall statue of Thanthai Periyar must be erected. However, considering the fact that an even better way of spreading Thanthai Periyar’s message of social equality would be to establish another 95 Samathuvapurams in his name, each having his statue at the entrance of the residential area where all communities live in unity and brotherhood, this Government has now decided to commence work for the same. On completion, along with the 145 samathuvapurams already established by this Government, there will be 240 samathuvapurams with statues of Periyar in the State.

58. In 1921, over 500 scholars under the leadership of the great scholar and founder of ‘Thani Tamil Iyakkam’, Thiru Maraimalai Adigalar had met in Pachaiyappa’s College at Chennai and had decided that Tamils need a separate calendar and a new calendar in the name of Saint Thiruvalluvar could be followed and this would constitute the ‘Tamil Year’. They also determined that the birth year of Thiruvalluvar was 31 BC. This decision was accepted by Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar even as early as 37 years ago and it was ordered to be followed in the Government Diary from 1971 and the Government Gazette from 1972. In view of the consensus amongst almost all Tamil Scholars that the first day of the month of Thai, is the first day of the Tamil year, this Government has decided to declare 1^st Thai as the Tamil New Year day. Therefore, the people of Tamil Nadu, who now celebrate Pongal as the festival of Tamils, can now celebrate it as Tamil New Year day also with redoubled joy. On this day let the people of this State plant trees bearing the ‘Mukkani’ fruits of banana, mango and jackfruit; draw colourful Kolams; decorate their houses with array of lamps showing them in new splendour; wearing new clothes sing and dance in praise of Tamil pride and self respect; spread the message of equality and shower their love and joy.

59. I have elaborated the policies, endeavours, achievements and future plans of this Government before you. This Government headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar, is firmly determined to ensure that the fruits of the unprecedented growth witnessed by the state today reach all sections of the society and to promote the welfare of the marginalised, spread the spirit of democracy, strengthen communal harmony and secure social justice. I conclude this address, with the hope that you will extend your full co-operation in successfully achieving these goals.