TN CM to launch free colour TVs to poor on Sep 15

Chennai, Sept 12: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will launch the distribution of free colour television sets to the poor people on September 15, coinciding with the birth anniversary of his mentor and Dravidian stalwart C N Annadurai at his birth place in Kancheepuram district.

Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, in a statement here, said as announced in the DMK election manifesto and in the budget for the year 2006-07, that Mr Karunanidhi would launch the popular scheme at Karasangal Samathuvapuram (equal habitation), near Paddapai in Kancheepuram district.

On the next day, his cabinet colleagues would commence the distribution of free colour TV sets in other districts to households not having TV sets, he said, adding he would launch the scheme in Madurai.

Local Administration Minister M K Stalin would distribute the TV sets at Enathur Samathuvapuram, also in Kancheepuram district, while Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy would hand over the sets to those living in slum clearance tenements in Pursaiwalkam and Kotturpuram in the city, he said.

Apart from state Ministers, Mr A Raja would be the only Union Minister to inaugurate the scheme. He would distribute the sets at his native Perambalur district.

The state government had made a budgetary allocation of Rs 750 crore in the 2006-07 budget for the scheme and proposed to distribute 30,000 14'' colour TV sets in the first phase.

It had constituted a committee of legislators, comprising representatives from political parties in the assembly to ensure transparency in procurement and proper distribution of the sets.

The distribution of TV sets on September 16 would clash with the protest demonstrations, organised by the opposition AIADMK and its allies to protest against the government's ''failure'' to contain and control ''Chikungunya'' in the state.

UNI