Vaithilingam announces subsidy on LPG cylinders

Puducherry, Sep 4 (UNI) Immediately after assuming office as Chief Minister, V Vaithilingam today announced a subsidy of Rs 30 on domestic LPG cylinders in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Talking to newspersons after signing the first file to provide subsidy on cooking gas cylinders, he said while a subsidy of Rs 30 would be provided on 14.5 kg LPG, the subsidy on small cylinders, provided along with free gas stoves by the government, would be Rs 11.

As many as two lakh LPG connections were there and the exchequer would incur an additional expenditure of Rs five crore per annum on account of the subsidy, he informed.

Stating that his government would implement the ''pocket money'' scheme for school children, already mooted by the Congress government from this academic year, Mr Vaithilngam said each students from sixth standard to 12th standard in all government and government-aided schools would get Rs 250 a year and this would cost the government an additional Rs 2.8 crore per year.

He said the granting of 'B2' status would enhance the House rent allowance of the government employees in the municipality area from 7.5 per cent to 20 per cent and in commune panchayats from 4 per cent to ten per cent.

Making it clear that the government and the Congress party would maintain good rapport, he said the scheme to provide one sovereign gold coin to retiring teachers would continue.

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