Schemes only if there is finance: CM

Puducherry, Sep 22(UNI) Puducherry Chief Minsiter V Vaithilingam today asked his Council of Ministers to announce new schemes only after assessing the financial position in the Union Territory.

Speaking at a function at the Ozhukarai constituency here to distribute old-age pension to those who applied for it before two years, Mr Vaithilingam said the old-age pension could not be provided to all those who applied for it because of the financial crunch in the last two years.

Announcement of more new schemes without assessing the fincnial position in the last two years in the Union Territory led to the confusion, he said, adding it was now rectified.

He said as soon as the new government assumed office, it had announced subsidy for the LPG cylinders and pocket money for school children. The government had also ordered waiving of agricultural loan in cooperative sector, he added.

All the schemes announced by the Congress Government at the Centre would be implemented here, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Cooperation M Kandasamy said an amount of Rs 1.5 crore was to be given as milk price for those who supplied milk to PONTLE. The administration had issued orders to divert funds from other department as the PONTLE was running in a loss. Steps were being taken to bring PONTLE back on the track of profit, he added.

Minister for Public Health A Namasivayam said as many as 850 persons, who had applied for old-age pension two years back were provided with the pension today.

UNI PAB NY AS1700