CM to launch second phase of free colour tv sets on Feb 15

Chennai, Feb 3 (UNI) The second phase of the disribution of free colour tv sets to the poor people will be launched by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on February 15.

An official release said about 25 lakh free colour TV sets would be distributed to the poor people in various parts of the state during the second phase as promised by the Chief Minister on Pongal Day.

Mr Karunanidhi would kick start it at a function to be held at Pammadhukulam village in adjoining Tiruvallur district, while his cabinet colleagues would distribute the sets in 28 districts the same day.

In Chennai, the second phase of distribution of TV sets would take place after the bypolls to the Chennai Corporation.

The free colour TV scheme was one of the most populist poll promises made by the DMK that catapulted the party to power in the May 2006 Assembly polls in the State.

As promised, Mr Karunanidhi launched the scheme amid fanfare at Padappai on late Chief Minister C N Annadurai's birth anniversary on September 15 last year. More than 25,000 TV sets were distributed in the first phase.

The state government had allocated Rs 750 crore in the budget for the scheme.

UNI