Distribution of colour TV by September: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Jun 27: The Tamil Nadu government today said it will distribute around 30,000 free colour television sets during the first phase by September end.

Announcing this, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, in a statement here said a decision to this effect was taken at an all party MLAs committee, constituted for the purpose of overseeing the procurement and distribution of colour television sets in a transparent manner.

To begin with, free television sets would be given to people living in Samathuvapurams (equality habitations), tribals living in Nilgiris district and those living in two slum clearance board tenements, one each in north and south Chennai, he said.

''It was also decided to distribute free colour TV sets to those accommodated in Rehabilitation centres in the state,'' he said, adding since 30,000 sets have to be distributed in September itself, it was decided to float national tenders.

The committee decided to follow the specifications of colour TVs and accept tender forms and conditions suggested by the committee headed by Chief Secretary for the purchase of the television sets, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi said as all the poor families, which do not have television sets would have to be given free sets in t7he second phase, it was decided to float global tenders for the purchase. The meeting was attended by committee members including Local Administration Minister M K Stalin and Legislators-D Sudarsanam (Congress), G K Mani (PMK), V Sivapunniyam (CPI), K Selvam (DPI) and H A Abdul Fazid and M Jagan Moorthy, the release added.

The opposition AIADMK and its ally, Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK), refused to join the committee, saying the scheme would not benefit the people.

The distribution of free colour TVs, marked the fulfilment of poll promise made by the DMK.

Mr Karunanidhi had announced the government would distribute 14 inch Colour TVs to all those poor families, which did not have television sets in their homes soon after he came to power.

The scheme was being launched in September, coinciding with the birth anniversaries of DMK stalwart C N Annadurai and Rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy.

UNI