TN to set up welfare board for Cable TV operators, employees

Chennai, Sep 13 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will set up a welfare board for the Cable TV operators and their employees in the state, according to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Addressing a felicitation function organised by the Tamil Nadu Cable TV Operators Association for setting up the government-owned Arasu Cable TV Corporation here last night, he said the government would constitute an advisory committee for the Cable TV Corporation to ensure its efficient functioning.

The Committee headed by him would have representatives from the Cable TV industry, he added.

Assuring the Cable TV operators that the government would not deprive them of their livelihood, he said the government would stand by them.

Explaining the genesis of the Arasu Cable TV Corporation, he said there would also be space for private operators as in the case of transport sector in which utilities run by the government and the private sector co-exist.

Noting that the government had fulfilled several assurances given by his party at the time of the Assembly elections, Mr Karunanidhi said his government would implement other promises also.

In a veiled attack on the DMK's ally PMK and the opposition AIADMK for opposing various government programmes, Mr Karunanidhi said he always favoured constructive criticism, but would not tolerate 'blind criticism'.

On the free CTV scheme, he said his government had already distributed 40 lakh Colour Television sets to those, who did not have one.

Global tenders would be floated for the purchase of 30 lakh more sets and leaders of the legislature parties would finalise the tenders next month, he added.

UNI