Pondy CM distributes free pattas to 51 STs

Puducherry, Oct 2 (UNI) For the first time in the history of Puducherry, free house site pattas were distributed to the Scheduled Tribes here.

At a function, Chief Minister N Rangasamy distributed free house site pattas to 51 ST people for land at Vaathanur village in Mannadipet commune panchayat.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Rangasamy said eventhough STs were not recognised in the Union Territory, nearly 4,000 such families were living here and the administration was taking steps to provide free pattas to them. For this purpose, steps were being taken to acquire 20 acres of land at seven different places. Necessary steps would also be taken to construct tenements for the STs either through the NGOs or through Kamaraj Housing Scheme here, he added.

In order to ensure that the studies of ST students were not affected, the administration would issue them certificates as backward tribes, the Chief Minister said.

On the issue of Tamil scholars objecting to the retaining of the town's name as Pondicherry, he said it would be sorted out through proper discussions with them.

The Chief Minister also honoured 2,353 freedom fighters with shawls and presented them gift coupons worth Rs 1,000 on the occasion.

UNI