Date:15/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071553280300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Union Minister launches ‘health mela’ at Iluppur

Staff Reporter

School gets buildings and laboratory worth Rs.75.38 lakh

PUDUKOTTAI: The Government Higher Secondary School in Iluppur has got additional infrastructure facilities in the form of classes and laboratory in all worth Rs.75.38 lakhs. The new infrastructure included an additional block comprising 18 class-rooms built at an estimate of Rs.56.88 lakhs; a full-fledged laboratory at Rs.11.74 lakhs; toilet block at Rs.6.76 lakhs.

After declaring open the buildings and also inaugurating the ‘health mela,’ a special health camp under the Centrally-sponsored ‘National Health Mission’ project, the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, S. Regupathy said that the State government accorded priority for the provision of infrastructure like laboratories and classrooms as part of its endeavour to improve the quality of education and academic performance of students.

Referring to the Centre’s efforts in ensuring health-care delivery for the needy, he said that the ‘health mela,’ with several tests such as ECG and scanning facilities, aimed at improving the quality of life of the people.

On a plea for the construction of additional classrooms for the Government Higher Secondary School, he said that steps would be taken if the site was identified for the same.

The Collector Reeta Harish Thakkar; the Joint Director (in-charge) of Health and Rural Welfare, S. Rajaraman were among those who spoke.

The Minister gave away Rs.3,000 each to 11 pregnant women towards the first instalment of assistance under the ‘Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Memorial Maternity Assistance Scheme’ and Rs.1.20 lakh sanctioned by the Mahalir Thittam to three self-help groups.

A total of 32 students who got first rank in the SSLC examination were given a lap-top each.