Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080352200300.htm
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Tamil Nadu

Ponmudy receives over 500 petitions at Tindivanam

Special Correspondent

— Photo:C. Venkatachalapathy

ATTENTIVE TO NEEDS: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy giving away welfare measures at a special grievance day session held in the Tindivanam Municipality on Saturday. Collector R. Palanisamy is to his left.

TINDIVANAM: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy has said that with the ever-increasing needs of the people, the number of grievance petitions received was getting bigger. He refuted criticism that special camps organised to collect petitions were mere rituals.

He was addressing a gathering at the Tindivanam Municipality, where he received over 500 petitions on Saturday.

Mr. Ponmudy said that those without land would seek house site pattas and those who had obtained the pattas would seek assistance to build houses.

The need for basic amenities and other infrastructure would arise after that. So, those at the helm of affairs should be sensitive to the requirements of the people and fulfil their expectations, and the State government had been doing just that.

Mr. Ponmudy said he would be completing the task of collecting petitions in eight taluks and two municipalities (Villupuram and Tindivanam) by Sunday.

He had instructed the officials to continue the exercise in the panchayat unions too. Genuine grievances would be redressed within 20 days, and if not, the reasons for rejecting the requests would be conveyed to the petitioners, he said.

Under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam and Anaithu Perooratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, a sum of Rs. 20 lakh had been allocated to every panchayat and Rs. 50 lakh to every town panchayat for improving amenities.

Mr. Ponmudy also said that the government had launched the Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme, free egg supply scheme and free colour television scheme for the uplift of the economically weaker sections.

Besides enhancing marriage assistance from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000, the Chief Minister had announced a monthly grant of Rs. 400 to unmarried women above 50 years and Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women to meet delivery expenses.

District Collector R. Palanisamy, MLA V. Kannan and Tindivanam Municipal Chairman Bhoopalan were present.

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