Date:07/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/07/stories/2009070754931100.htm

National

Karunanidhi thanks Manmohan

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday thanked Primer Minister Manmohan Singh for the allocation of Rs. 500 crore in the Union budget for the rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons and reconstruction of the northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Karunanidhi noted that the budget attached importance to industrial growth and social justice. Proposals made in this regard provided an allocation of Rs. 10 lakh crore. They would benefit all sections of society, the Chief Minister said, commending Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

He expressed gratitude to Mr. Mukherjee for the announcement on the establishment of a handloom mega cluster in the State.

He referred to several other announcements such as this year’s target of Rs. 3, 25,000 crore fixed for agriculture credit flow, extension of the validity of the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme to six months, a revised interest subvention scheme for short-term crop loans, an allocation of Rs. 12,887 crore for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the enhanced allocation for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.