3 months ago
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In a free-wheeling chat with The Hindu, I. Periyasamy, Minister of Rural Development and DMK elder leader, fills successful connected the assorted initiatives taken and implemented by the DMK government. As helium gears up to look different predetermination this summer, helium is assured of triumph and talks of the assorted promises helium has completed successful his relation arsenic a Minister and besides for the radical of his constituency.
This election, everyone says, is going to beryllium pugnacious for the DMK. What are your thoughts connected this?
No, it won’t beryllium difficult. Our Chief Minister has fulfilled each the promises that person been made and we person besides strengthened each that has been implemented truthful far. All schemes similar Naan Mudhalvan, Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, etc., person had a transformative interaction successful society. As for schemes nether my department, we person laid agrarian roads for much than 21,000 km nether Mudalvarin Grama Saalaigal Membattu Thittam. Feeder roads connecting NHs to agrarian roads person besides been laid. Similarly, mini buses person been launched and successful the State determination is roadworthy entree and proscription installation to adjacent distant villages. Community halls person been built successful galore places and villagers request not question agelong distances to clasp functions.
Apart from assorted steps taken nether the cleanable colony campaign, what different initiatives person you started?
Waste absorption is being followed successful each colony panchayats. Recently, portion laying tar roads we started utilising discarded integrative that is generated successful villages. But, determination is 1 committedness that remains unfulfilled and that is Sewage Treatment Plant for weavers of Chinnalapatti. We person formed a weavers’ relation and acquired onshore for the works with the authorities allocating ₹17 crore for it. But owed to hurdles raised by the section radical it has been delayed. We are going successful for a adust STP wherever sludge is dried. This tin aboriginal beryllium utilized successful cement factories and determination volition beryllium nary groundwater pollution. Hence, this clip I volition beryllium going each retired to acceptable up the works for the weavers. What are the problems you foresee with adoption of VB-G RAM G Bill in the spot of MGNREGA?
Yes, we are against the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. But determination are assorted different causes that we fearfulness would arise. Like the MGNREGA, the caller measure besides talks of 60:40 (Centre-State) share. But successful caller years, the Centre has failed to fulfil its commitments. We are struggling to wage the workers. The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana besides involves a cost-sharing exemplary of 60:40. But successful Tamil Nadu, it is present 40:60, truthful seeing the way grounds of the Centre, we are wary of the caller scheme. After coming to power, we person formed much than 20,000 clusters of workers nether the MGNREGA, frankincense providing enactment adjacent their homes. These workers are registered and astir 39 crore radical person been benefited. But successful VB-G RAM G Bill, the onus shifts to the Centre regarding allocation of manpower, etc. this would surely deed the agrarian economy.
Coming to the Assembly elections, bash you deliberation the youth ballot whitethorn divided owed to the beingness of the caller entrant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam headed by histrion Vijay?
I don’t spot the voters arsenic aged oregon young. We some (the DMK and the AIADMK) person our loyal ballot banks. So the family, comprising the aged and the young, volition ballot for the parties they are affiliated to. Chances are hardcore fans of Mr. Vijay whitethorn ballot for him. When MGR launched his party, helium already had governmental experience. But, the TVK has not fought adjacent a byelection, truthful we are incapable to ascertain their spot and adjacent Mr. Vijay cannot gauge the fig of votes helium volition get. He says helium volition get votes of those who reason some the DMK and the AIADMK. In that scenario, suppose, the DMK gets 40% votes and the AIADMK 30%. The NTK and different parties are determination who besides person a loyal elector base, past with what is left, however tin Mr. Vijay accidental that helium volition win?
How bash you spot relation of the BJP, which is portion of the AIADMK-inclusive NDA, successful the upcoming election?
The predetermination combat is lone betwixt the DMK and the AIADMK. After the elections, I spot a alteration successful BJP’s policies. They volition spot that playing the communal paper volition not win successful Tamil Nadu. For ages successful our villages, Hindus and Muslims person lived together. Raking up spiritual issues volition not fetch them overmuch votes here.
