Education, Careers & Professional News
Get approval for Theni college, Jayalalithaa tells DPA Ministers
Source
TOI
Date
2005-06-17
Information
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday appealed to 12 Central Ministers representing Tamil Nadu to obtain the Medical Council of India approval for starting the Theni Government Medical College in Andipatti.
At a function here, Ms. Jayalalithaa laid the foundation stone for various projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 160 crores and inaugurated schemes. She said the Government sanctioned Rs.74.32 crores for the college and the 300-bed hospital attached to it and provided adequate equipment, doctors and paramedical staff. The arrival of in-patients was increasing drastically, she said.
The Government had even made temporary hostel facilities. But the Medical Council of India did not grant permission to start the college this academic year. It was a great injustice done to people of Tamil Nadu, particularly people in Theni district. AIADMKs policy was that the public-related issues should not be politicised, she said.
Permission for weaving parks
To enable power looms to face global competition, the Centre granted permission to set up hi-tech weaving parks at Andipatti in Theni, Palladam in Coimbatore, Erode in Erode and Kumarapalayam in Namakkal districts. The hi-tech park at Andipatti would be set up on 40.86 acres at a cost of Rs. 96.21 crores. Around 110 power loom entrepreneurs would install 630 shuttle-less looms there. It would have three sizing units, an effluent treatment plant, a childcare centre, a computer-aided design centre, a modern lab, a weavers training centre, an exhibition-cum-sales hall and a health centre. It would generate 1,500 jobs directly and 15,000 indirectly, while the value of annual cloth production would be Rs. 360 crores. Earlier, Ms. Jayalalithaa handed over a cheque for Rs.4.37 crores to the representatives of the power loom federation.
The Chief Minister said 1,500 handloom weavers in Andipatti, Jakkampatti and T. Subbulapuram would each get Rs.12,000 worth of handlooms with jacquard free. The scheme would be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.80 crores. Efforts were on to create 2,000 new designs for handloom weavers to compete in global market.
Special schemes
Announcing a series of schemes for Theni district, Ms. Jayalalithaa said solar lights would be fixed to houses and streets in hilly regions such as Arasaradi, Bommarajapuram, Kuzhikadu, Nochiodai, Indiranagar, Anjarapalli, Rajiv Nagar, and Vellimalai estate. The scheme would be completed within six months. A grape wine processing and dry grape processing unit beneficial to grape cultivators in Cumbum valley would be started under the New Anna Renaissance Scheme. A mango procurement centre would be set up in Periakulam. A mango-processing unit was under progress in Nilakottai. A new bus stand at Kumuli lower camp area would also be set up soon. A dam would be constructed across Kottakudi river near Kurangani.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said she would expedite long-pending 18th canal project and weed out practical difficulties in acquisition of land for this project.
Receives petitions
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa received petitions from the public for the first time and advised officials to take immediate action on them. Ms. Jayalalithaa cleared three petitions on the spot.
While receiving petitions after laying foundation stones for various projects at a function held here on Thursday, the Chief Minister attentively listened to the petitioners grievances and issued necessary directions to officials.
She also cleared petitions on the spot after discussing the matter with officials.
Those who gave the petitions to Ms. Jayalalithaa included 21-year-old Raja, who belonged to a weavers family and asked for financial assistance to install looms. Ms. Jayalalithaa directed officials to attend to his request immediately.
Others requested birth certificates, financial aid for higher education, hearing aids and jobs.