K Palaniswami Announces 24-Hour Power Supply For Tamil Nadu Farmers

Farmers would henceforth be provided 24-hour-three phase electricity for their pump sets, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced here on Friday.

Addressing an election rally at Udumalaipettai, Mr Palaniswami, the AIADMK co-coordinator, also slammed the DMK as a ''corporate company.''

The DMK had been servile towards the centre when it was part of various governments, he alleged hitting back at the arch rival for accusing his government of being subservient to the BJP-led centre.

Referring to a consultative meet he held with the farmers in this district on Thursday, he said they made a plea for three phase power for agricultural pumpsets for 24 hours.

"Accepting their request, Amma's government would provide 24-hour three phase power supply for pumpsets used by farmers," he declared.

Currently, farmers get three phase electricity for pumpsets for about 12 hours in Cauvery delta districts and six hours in non-delta regions in the state.

"This is a government of farmers. A farmer is the Chief Minister and we are giving priority for agricultural activities," Mr Palaniswami asserted, adding the government has been extending support and help to farmers in several ways.

The Chief Minister listed several initiatives of the government in this western district such as setting up of a veterinary college, drainage and drinking water schemes and upgradation of primary health centres.

"Whatever may be the scheme announced, it is the Amma's government led by me that immediately implements it. DMK is not a political party. It is a corporate company in which Stalin is the chairman and his family members Udhayanidhi, Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi are the directors."

Rubbishing DMK's accusation that his government was subservient to the BJP-led central government, he said,"it is wrong."

Hankering for power and office, it was only the DMK that was servile when it was part of diverse dispensations for 13 long years at the centre, he alleged.

The AIADMK government supported the centre only for projects that benefited the people and opposed it wherever warranted, he said and appealed to the people to vote for the two-leaves symbol of the party in the elections, expected to be held in April.

He accused DMK chief MK Stalin and party Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi of false propaganda with an eye on the elections.

She has falsely claimed that the government's rejuvenation plan for waterbodies, "Kudimaramathu" scheme remained only on paper, he said.

The reality was that 14,000 plus lakes and over 26,000 other water bodies, including ponds, had been revived through the Public Works Department and local bodies respectively.

Mr Palaniswami said Kanimozhi has been claiming falsely that the BJP-led centre did no good for the state and asserted his government had been getting projects needed by the people.

He referred to sanction of 11 medical colleges, including one here, in the government sector from the centre.

Mocking Stalin for collecting grievance petitions in a "box" from the public, he said such practices belonged to the past and "this is the age of science."

Soon, people could call the helpline number ''1100'' for getting all their grievances redressed, he said.

Within ten days, the Chief Minister's Helpline and Integrated Grievances Redressal Management Scheme, would be launched, he said.

Also, officials across the state have already addressed grievances in 5.25 lakh petitions out of the total 9.77 lakh representations received, he said.

Interacting with members of Women's Self Help Groups at nearby Palladam, he said late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa ushered in 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies, fulfilling her poll promise.

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, the AIADMK government facilitated credit through banks for WSHGs worth about Rs 12,000 crore, he said.

Also, he pointed to the recent amendment in the assembly to the Indian Penal Code for enhanced punishment for crimes against women and children and listed several other measures for their development.