The Hindu : AICC team pleased with Pondy Govt. performance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

AICC team pleased with Pondy Govt. performance

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry March 30. The AICC secretary and convenor of the AICC- nominated Coordination Committee for Pondicherry, Ramesh Chennithala, told newspersons here today that the Committee was happy that the Rangasamy-led government here had initiated sincere and dedicated steps to implement the assurances contained in the party's election manifesto.

While 50 per cent of the promises had been in the process of being fulfilled, the trend of performance to make Pondicherry an investment destination for IT and tourism sectors was quite encouraging.

The Coordination Committee had been formed for Pondicherry by the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, in keeping with the policy that there should be such committees in all Congress-ruled States. Today's meeting was the first of the four-member panel, which included the former Karnataka Chief Minister, Veerappa Moily, the PCC president, V. Narayanasamy (who were also present at the press conference) and the Chief Minister of Pondicherry.

Mr. Ramesh Chennithala said the committee had earlier reviewed the performance of the government here. He said he had discussions with the Chief Minister and his colleagues and a strategy was finalised to take urgent steps for the total implementation of the promises. The committee would meet every three months. Mr. Veerappa Moily had also been available as a resource person to give his expert opinion in view of his experience in administrative and financial aspects.

Mr. Moily, who is now the Chairman of Taxation Reforms Committee in Karnataka, said the Union Territory was poised to be a model State in providing a corruption-free and efficient administration thanks to the implementation of e-governance measures.

Mr. Moily said mere raising of taxes was not the job of the government. There should be compliance with the taxation principles. He felt the rate of compliance was higher in Pondicherry.

The political, economic and social stability in Pondicherry had been contributing in a large measure to the State's stupendous development, he said.

Asked if the delay in holding civic polls was discussed, Mr. Chennithala said the date of polls would have to be decided by the government. However, the pre-poll preparations had got to be made and, on the party side, training and awareness programme should be completed on various aspects of the municipal and commune panchayat bodies.

He said the party would urge the Centre to confer special status on Pondicherry so that there would be no handicaps in making progress.

Mr. Narayanasamy said sadhbavana yatras would

be held in the next few months in all the four regions. There would be training of women, students and youth wings to mark the climax of the yatras.

Ministers E. Valsaraj, K. Lakshminarayanan and A. Elumalai, and the PCC general secretary, A. Gandhiraj, were also present at the press conference.

The AICC has appointed Joseph Mariadoss as party observer for the Goa Assembly polls, according to Mr. Chennithala.

The AICC delegates had earlier addressed the office-bearers of the party and a workers meeting.

They also made a courtesy call on the former Chief Minister, P. Shanmugham.

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