Gold gift for girls from all religions: Jayalalitha

Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu, May 2 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said the four-gram gold she had announced for girls for making 'Thali' (Mangalsutra) would be an unconditional offer for women of all religions, below poverty line (BPL).

Addressing a poll meeting here, she said the half sovereign gold would be given to daughters of farmers covered by the Farmers Protection scheme and BPL families at the time of their marriage, irrespective of caste and religion. The offer was also not restricted to just one girl but any number of girls from a particular family, she clarified.

Girls from different religions could use the gold according to their religious customs and practices, she said. Christians could use it for making wedding rings, if they so wanted, and Muslims as per their religious needs, she added.

Referring to the acute drinking water problem prevailing in this backward district, she said if the AIADMK was voted back to power, it would implement the long pending Hogenekkal Composite Drinking Water project at an estimated cost of Rs 1005 crore.

The government had already prepared the project proposal and sent it to the Centre for approval. The project was necessary for the district as ground water was contaminated with flouride, she said.

Steps would be taken to avail financial assistance from Japan.

Ms Jayalalithaa added that if the AIADMK came back to power, it would set up a Mango Export Zone at Krishnagiri, which would benefit about one lakh mango growers. The zone would help farmers to export their products, she said.

The Chief Minister, who had announced waiver of farm loans said the state government would not approach the UPA government at the Centre for financial assistance. The AIADMK, if voted back to power, would use its own resources to waive all cooperative loans along with interest, she added.

UNI GV/WS MA RN2000