Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032160181200.htm

Tamil Nadu

Annadurai’s centenary to be celebrated throughout State

Special Correspondent

Copyrights of works
of Tamil scholars

to be purchased
Income ceiling for scholarships increased

CHENNAI: The State Government will celebrate in a grand manner former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai’s centenary, falling in 2009, according to Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan.

The Minister, in his budget speech, told the Assembly on Thursday that the Government regarded as a “great privilege” the opportunity to celebrate the “great leader’s centenary in a year when we are the ruling party.” The celebration would take place throughout 2009, all over the State. The government would purchase the copyrights of works of several Tamil scholars, including Thooran, Ayothidasar, Ra. Pi. Sethupillai, Ra. Raghava Iyengar, Udumalai Narayana Kavi, Vindhan, La.Sa. Ramamirtham, Avvai Ti.Ka. Shanmugam, Na. Sanjivi, Vallikannan and Su. Samuthiram and put them in the public domain. It would give solatium to the scholars’ legal heirs.

A museum of sculptures with statues of seven great philanthropists would be established in the Kolli Hills. The annual income ceiling for students of the Backward Classes, the Most Backward Classes and the Denotified Communities for availing themselves of scholarships would be increased from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh. The income limit for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes students receiving government scholarship would also be enhanced from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh.

The Union Government had sanctioned a Rs. 27-crore fishing harbour at Colachel. A modern fishing technology training centre would be established for fisherfolk. It was decided to revive the four per cent interest subsidy on loans taken by handloom weavers’ cooperative societies. The government would also bear the weavers’ share of premium under the Handloom Weavers Health Insurance Scheme, benefiting three lakh weavers.

Even as Speaker R. Avuadaiappan announced that the Finance Minister would present the budget, O. Paneerselvam, deputy leader of the AIADMK in the House, rose to say something. The Speaker expunged the observations of the AIADMK leader. Mr Paneerselvam along with his party colleagues staged a walkout.