Vanakkam. I take great pleasure in addressing at the commencement of the twelfth session of the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly in 2010. I convey my hearty greetings for the Tamil New Year and Pongal, the festival of Tamils.

Eversince Kalaignar Karunanidhi was made the Chief Minister for the fifth time by the people of Tamil Nadu, in addition to having fulfilled all the promises, he has also formulated several new welfare schemes and has been working tirelessly to usher in well being and prosperity in the lives of the people of this state. It is well known that the people of Tamil Nadu have recognised and rewarded the achievements of the Government headed by him by way of great victories in the recent Parliament elections and in all the bye-elections. Conscious of these victories as people’s testimonials and guided by the maxim ‘Service to Man is Service to God’, this Government will continue its march in the path shown by Perarignar Anna.

This Government has been successful in emphasizing and pursuing in all its actions the goal of social justice, one of the central tenets of the Dravidian Movement. At the same time, while reminding that true federalism based on state autonomy is yet to be realized, this Government is determined in its commitment to achieve that goal. The present scheme of distribution of powers between the Centre and the States has been devised sixty years ago based on the needs of a newly independent nation. The need for re-examining the same in today’s context, with democracy having taken firm roots and thriving with vigour and vibrancy, is growing day by day. Urging this very same issue, a resolution on state autonomy was moved in this House in 1974 by Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar and passed. The Union Government must strengthen the hands of State Governments which are closer to the people and have been effectively implementing schemes needed by them.

Successive Union Finance Commissions have reduced the share in devolution of well-performing states like Tamil Nadu. We urge that this discriminatory stance should not be allowed to be continued by the Thirteenth Finance Commission also and such states must be given their fair share of devolution.

While supporting the Union Government for undertaking various economic reforms necessary for the accelerated development of the nation, it will be in the true sprit of federalism only if the State Governments are consulted by the Union Government before taking appropriate decisions on issues affecting the livelihood of the ordinary people who live in the lowest strata of the society like farmers, labourers and fishermen, decisions having nationwide implications and new draft legislations.

This Government is of the firm view that the proposed Goods and Services Tax, meant to replace the existing system of indirect taxes levied by the Union and the States, should be introduced based on consensus among the States without affecting the existing powers and revenues of the States.

This Government is determined to wipe out all forms of extremism. This Government is maintaining strict vigil to ensure that extremism does not infiltrate even to the smallest extent, into our state from neighbouring states or through coastal areas. This Government conveys its thanks to the Union Government for accepting its request and establishing a hub of the National Security Guards in Chennai. With a view to further motivating our police personnel who are involved in the noble act of providing protection to the public, this Government has accepted and implemented the recommendations of the Third Police Commission which was constituted by this Government in 2006 to promote their welfare. We are taking all steps necessary to further modernize our police force so that it will be equipped to meet the new challenges posed by the changing times.

It was this Government which waived co-operative agricultural loans and provided interest free co-operative crop loans for the first time in the country, with a view to giving an impetus to agriculture and motivating farmers. This year, the Government has targeted to disburse co-operative crop loans to the tune of Rs.2,000 crores and so far, a sum of Rs.1,559 crores have been disbursed.

This Government had enhanced the procurement price of paddy from Rs. 600 per quintal in 2005-2006 to Rs.1050 per quintal and the procurement price of sugarcane from Rs.1,014 per tonne to Rs.1,550 per tonne which is inclusive of transportation charges and sugar recovery based incentive. In order to further encourage the farmers to increase production of paddy this year, this Government has decided to grant an additional incentive of Rs.50 per quintal over and above the current procurement price of Rs.1,000 per quintal in respect of ordinary grade paddy and Rs.1,050 per quintal in respect of fine grade paddy. As a result, the procurement price for ordinary grade variety and fine grade variety will increase to Rs.1,050 and Rs.1,100 per quintal respectively. On account of this, the Government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs.80 crores.

In addition to reopening the ‘Uzhavar Sandhais’ (Farmers’ Shanties) which not only ensure fair price for agricultural produce like vegetables but are also very much beneficial to the consumers, 45 new ‘Uzhavar Sandhais’ have been opened in the last three and half years and they are functioning well. More number of ‘Uzhavar Sandhais’ will be opened this year.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has led to significant increase in productivity and substantial reduction in the quantum of use of water. The President of the World Bank, Thiru. Robert Zoellick had recently commended the State for the successful implementation of this novel method. In addition, by extending precision farming to all districts, this Government has been motivating farmers to cultivate highly remunerative crops by utilizing less water. Further, under the World Bank funded Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) Project, implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.2,547 crores through the harmonized efforts of the various departments relating to agriculture and allied activities, works are underway in 63 sub-basins benefiting 16 lakh acres of agricultural land.

Under the scheme of giving land free of cost to the poor and landless families, 1,77,057 poor agricultural families have been provided with 2,11,356 acres of land, free of cost so far. 4,65,386 poor farmers and agricultural labourers have been given benefits to the tune of Rs.371 crores through the Tamil Nadu Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Welfare Board so far.

This Government has placed special emphasis on implementing the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme meant to compensate farmers affected by natural calamities. Consequently when compared to the fact that during 2001-2006, 2,38,036 farmers had received compensation amounting to Rs.145 crores, in the last three and half years, 8,59,704 farmers have been given compensation amounting to Rs.680 crores. Out of the compensation amount of Rs.652 crores to be given to farmers on account of loss caused by the cyclone ‘Nisha’, even after the State Government has fully disbursed its share of Rs.306 crores, in view of the release of only Rs.46 crores by the Government of India under its share, we urge the Union Government to release its remaining share of Rs.260 crores immediately.

The Nilgiris district was severely affected on account of the heavy rains during last November. Due to the landslides lives were lost and houses damaged. The important roads of the district were also damaged. Immediate relief works were taken up on a war footing. The fact that temporary houses were constructed in the place of fully damaged houses within 15 days and that restoration activities are underway with an allocation of Rs.25 crores, has been welcomed with satisfaction by the people of that district.

The scheme for inter-linking of rivers is considered highly beneficial to water-deficit states and the Government of Tamil Nadu has been urging its execution. Though the Union Government may now be considering this scheme as infeasible, as far as this Government is concerned, taking a decision that at least intra-state rivers in the State should be linked expeditiously for taking the surplus flood water to dry districts, the same was announced in the Governor’s Address of 2008. In pursuance of this announcement, the first phase of the ‘Cauvery- Gundar Interlinking Scheme’ at a cost of Rs.189 crores and the ‘Tamirabarani – Karumeniyar – Nambiar Interlinking Project’ for taking the surplus water from Tamirabarani river to the water deficit areas of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts at a cost of Rs.369 crores, are under implementation. We urge the Union Government to provide assistance for these schemes under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) as was resolved by the National Development Council based on the suggestion made by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the National Development Council meeting held on 19.12.2007 that such schemes should be funded under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme.

The Sethusamudram project has been the longstanding dream of Tamils and many scholars and experts had considered its implementation highly desirable. The people of Tamil Nadu are concerned about the delay in execution of this project for which the foundation stone was laid in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Chairperson of UPA, Tmt. Sonia Gandhi and the Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar and leaders of all parties being present on the same dais. This Government urges the Union Government to remove the hurdles in the implementation of this project which has the potential to herald an era of economic strength and prosperity for the State and to implement this project expeditiously.

Though the overall inflation rate of our country at the end of the last week of November was only 4.78 percent, for the first time in the last 11 years, food inflation rate had increased to 19.05 percent on account of rise in prices of food items. The decline in production of commodities like sugar, pulses and edible oil on account of the drought which affected many parts of the country this year and the consequent rise in their prices is mainly responsible for this situation. This Government has been taking several steps to protect the common man and the middle income families from the burden of this price rise. In particular, it is this Government which has been providing rice at only one rupee a kilogram, the lowest price in the entire country. Furthermore, not only this Government has been procuring and distributing essential food items like toor dal, urad dal, palm oil and wheat flour at subsidized prices through fair price shops, but also has been providing ten grocery items to all family card holders at a price of only Rs.50 under the ‘scheme for distributing grocery items at subsidised prices’. These exemplary measures undertaken by the Government to shield the people from the rise in prices of essential commodities have provided great relief to the poor and the middle income families.

As a result of the various steps taken by this Government to ensure the availability of food and grocery items at subsidised prices in the State, the expenditure on account of food subsidy has increased from Rs.1,200 crores in 2005-2006 to Rs.4,000 crores in 2009-2010.

This Government has implemented several schemes in the last three and half years for improving infrastructure in government hospitals and filling the vacancies of doctors and nurses, thus ensuring quality health care in government hospitals catering to the needs of the poor and ordinary people visiting these institutions every day. After this Government assumed office, medical infrastructure has been improved at a cost of Rs.792 crores and 6,009 doctors, 7,042 nurses and 2,812 hospital workers have been newly appointed in government hospitals.

Five new government medical college hospitals have been sanctioned to ensure the availability of higher level medical care in all parts of the State. In addition, a new complex with modern buildings and infrastructure will be constructed for the Madras Medical College, the first medical college of the State and an institution of great heritage. I am happy to announce that this new complex will be constructed at a cost of Rs.70 crores adjacent to the Government General Hospital on the land previously occupied by the Central Jail.

Under the ‘Varumun Kaappom’ Scheme, so far, 13,045 camps have been conducted across the State and 1,26,73,884 persons have benefited. The free emergency ‘108’ ambulance service is functioning successfully all over the State. As a result of these pioneering initiatives by the Government to promote the welfare of the people, the number of patients receiving treatment and number of deliveries in government hospitals have increased significantly.

Though government hospitals are functioning effectively and benefiting the general public, there existed a situation where the poor had to approach private hospitals for specialized treatment of several life threatening diseases. Recognizing this situation and conscious of the fact that the poor would not be able to afford the expenses for private medical care, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced and implemented a noble scheme, named ‘Kalaignar Insurance Scheme for Life Saving Treatments’. The insurance premium for this scheme has been fully borne by the Government. Under this very popular scheme, 1,40,70,367 families have enrolled as members so far. Under this scheme, in the very first four months till now, 24,495 beneficiaries have received free specialized treatment worth Rs.83 crores in 539 hospitals across the State.

The system of Activity Based Learning, successfully implemented in the schools of Tamil Nadu, has emerged as a model for the entire country. Experts from other states and several other countries have come to study its implementation in our state so as to replicate the same in their states and countries. Having successfully achieved universal primary education, this Government will strive towards universal secondary education by improving the quality of high schools under the national scheme for the development of secondary education.

In addition to providing education for all, it needs to be ensured that the education given is uniform and of high quality. With this objective, the Government has proposed to introduce the scheme for providing equitable education. The various existing syllabi in our state as well as other states were studied and their positive aspects identified and consolidated. Accordingly the Government decided to formulate a new, easy and common syllabus of high quality by incorporating the good features so identified and implement the same throughout the State. This Government is of the firm view that the introduction of equitable education system will remove the existing difficulties, if any, faced by students and parents on account of multiple boards of education and syllabi and it will also enhance the competitiveness of our students in various national level examinations.

I request all sections of the society to extend their co-operation for the success of this revolutionary scheme.

This Government would like to thank the Union Government for acceding to its request and thus approving the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management at Trichy and a World Class University at Coimbatore and for starting a Central University at Tiruvarur.