Govt to provide Colour Television to BPL families: Pondy CM

Pondicherry, Aug 4: Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy today reiterated that his Government was committed to provide colour television sets to the BPL families and dole to the education unemployed youths in the Union Territory.

Winding up the two day general discussion on budget, he said committees would be set up to identify the beneficieries under the schemes.

Mr Rangasamy said when he had called on President A P J Abdul Kalam, he had advised him to concentrate on the provision of pure drinking water, quality education and eradication of unemployment, which would ensure the development of the Union Territory. With the three in mind, he had prepared the budget for the year, he said adding that for the provision of pure drinking water, the Government was taking various efforts and bed dams were being constructed to prevent the intrusion of saline water.

The Government was also not permitting chemical industries and industries, which consumes excess water, he added.

Mr Ramasamy said the literacy rate in the Union Territory stood at 85 per cent presently and all efforts were being taken to reach the target of 100 per cent. Stating that the Government was concentrating more on primary education, he said all vacant posts of teachers in Government schools would be filled shortly.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the Government was providing a scholarship of Rs 250 to all students studying from sixth to plus two standard in Government schools here.

The setting up of the special economic zone(SEZ) and free port shortly, would find an answer to the unemployment problem in the union territory, he said adding that the administration was contemplating to set up an IT industry here, for which 50 acres of land had been identified.

To encourage agriculturists in the Union Territory, the administration had waived crop loans to the tune of Rs 27 crore.

The administration was also taking steps to modernise all textile mills in the Union Territory, he added.

All steps were being taken to ensure tourism development here, the Chief Minister said adding that talks were being held with several private institutions in this regard.

Pointing out to the demand for pattas for those who have constructed pucca houses in Government poromboke land, Mr Rangasamy said the Government would consder the provision of pattas to them also.

The Chief Minister also said the administration would set up a tidal park at 91,000 sq feet land beloning to the Subbrayapillai Chatram here. The administration would also provide two sets of uniforms to self-help groups (SHGs) here, he added

UNI