Karunanidhi launches free colour TV scheme

Chennai, Sep 15: Marking the fulfillment of yet another poll promise, which had virtually catapulted the DMK-led DPA to power in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi launched the free Colour TV Scheme for the poor.

Amid fanfare today, the DMK President distributed the colour TV sets to the poor, coinciding with the birth anniversary of his political mentor and Dravidian Stalwart C N Annadurai at his birthplace in Kancheepuram District.

The launch of the populist scheme, which drew flak from the Opposition AIADMK, was one of the most attractive promises made by the DMK in its election manifesto and in the Budget for the year 2006-07.

Mr Karunanidhi launched the scheme at the tastefully decorated Karasangal Samathuvapuram (equality habitats) at Paddapai in Kancheepuram.

Today, his Cabinet colleagues will begin the distribution of the colour TVs in other districts, barring Madurai where the code of conduct had come into force for the October 11 Assembly byelections following the issuance of the notification by the Election Commission.

Finance Minister K Anbazhagan is scheduled to launch the scheme in Madurai.

Local Administration Minister M K Stalin will distribute the TV sets at Enathur Samathuvapuram, also in Kancheepuram District while Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy will hand over the TVs to those living in slum clearance board tenements in Pursawalkam and Kotturpuram in the city.

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

Among those who participated in the function included Tamil Nadu Ministers M K Stalin, Parithi Illamvazhuthi and T M Anbarasan, Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, PMK President G K Mani and MLAs and MPs of DPA. The Tamil Nadu Government had made a budgetary allocation of Rs 750 crore for the scheme to distribute 14 inch colour TV sets in the first phase to 30,000 poor people, who do not own a TV.

It constituted a committee of legislators, comprising representatives of political parties in the Assembly to ensure transparency in procurement and proper distribution of the televisions.

The scheme drew flak from AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition J Jayalalithaa, who alleged that the DMK Government had vested interest in the scheme.

''If 25 lakh colour televisions are distributed at a cost of Rs 750 crore, Mr Karunanidhi's ''family television'' would get a return of Rs 300 crore per year in the form of cable connection fee at the rate of Rs 100 per household.

''Even if the government comes forward to provide free cable connection, the money will only go to his family,'' a resolution adopted at the executive meeting of the AIADMK, alleged.

All roads led to Padappai yesterday morning as Mr Karunanidhi, after garlanding the statue of Anna at Valluvar Kottam, proceeded to Kancheepuram to launch the scheme.

The Samathuvapuram was refurbished for the function. Party flags dotted the entire stretch of road from Chennai to Padappai with party workers making a beeline to the venue.

UNI