TN farmers to get free pumpsets; soft skill training scheme for youth

Small and medium farmers in the State will get energy efficient motors for their pumpsets free of cost to replace the existing inefficient high energy consuming motors, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced on Sunday.

“In the case of other farmers, motors will be given at 50 per cent subsidy. This move will save 20 per cent of electricity,” the Chief Minister said in his Independence Day address from Fort St George.
He said a substantial number of pumpsets used by the farmers across the state were consuming more electricity which had resulted in power shortage in the state.
Mr Karunanidhi also allocated Rs 50 crore to launch a scheme to provide skill improvement training to one lakh youth in the state in the current year.
“This scheme is launched to mark the International Year of Youth announced by the United Nations. The training will make them employable,” he said. Besides graduates and post-graduates, those who have passed SSLC and Plus Two will also get the training.
Recalling various road projects completed in Corporations, Municipalities and Town panchayats in the last four years at a cost of Rs 3,465 crore, the Chief Minister said this year another Rs 1000 would be allotted as special fund to improve the roads further.
Mr Karunanidhi also issued work orders to 31 beneficiaries from 31 districts under Kalaignar Housing Scheme. The objective of the scheme is to convert 21 lakh huts into concrete houses. In the first phase 3 lakh new houses will be constructed.
The Chief Minister said though the government had allotted Rs 1800 crore taking into account that each house would cost Rs 60,000, it has been decided to increase the amount to 75,000, in the wake of requests made during the inauguration of the scheme in Tiruchi.
The Tamil Nadu government also decided to celebrate the birth centenary of Mother Teresa which begins on August 26.
He said for the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu Rs 10,000 crore has been allotted for School Education Department.
Later Mr Karunanidhi gave away various awards to districts collectors, social workers, social organisations working among the differently-abled, government officials who have done exemplary work.
Dharmapuri district collector P. Amudha, Theni District Collector P. Muthuveeran and Krishnagiri district collector V.K.Shanmugam received best collector awards.
The state government’s Kalpana Chawla award went to J. Deepa of Madurai, a differently-abled woman, who has won many medals in the international and Asian level athletics competitions. The award carries Rs 5 lakh and a medal.
She has completed her MPhil in philosophy and pursuing her Phd. She said the Chief Minister had promised her a job.