4 days ago
Officers must act as a strong bridge between government and people, upholding Dravidian values: Deputy CM Udhayanidhi
Officers must act as a strong bridge between the government and the people, upholding the values of the Dravidian model, as there are only eight months to the elections, said Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin while chairing a multi-departmental review meeting at the Karur Collectorate on Wednesday.
Mr. Udhayanidhi inaugurated 13 completed development projects worth ₹58.25 crore, including the newly built ₹40 crore Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Bus Stand at Thirumanilaiyur. He also laid the foundation stone for three new projects totaling ₹3.35 crore and distributed welfare assistance valued at ₹162.22 crore to 18,332 beneficiaries across various sectors.
The welfare measures included free house site pattas for over 13,000 families, marriage and disability aid, petrol scooters for differently abled persons, loans under MSME schemes, and support for women entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHGs). Financial assistance was also extended to farmers, artisans, students, and senior citizens, along with housing orders under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme.
Stalin also urged students and young athletes to make active use of the State's 'Aadukalam' mobile app to engage with sports development initiatives. 'The Aadukalam app allows youth to access real-time information on sports schemes and infrastructure. I encourage everyone to utilise it fully,' he said.
He lauded the distribution of sports kits to 157 village panchayats across eight unions under the Kalaignar Sports Scheme but called for regular audits to ensure proper usage. He also directed officials to revive inactive women's SHGs, ensure prompt grievance redressal, and extend benefits under schemes like Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam and the Chief Minister's Dream Home Scheme to all eligible persons.
Highlighting the upcoming elections, he urged officers to uphold the efficiency and inclusiveness of the government's outreach programmes. Mr. Udhayanidhi also visited the Thalir SHG paper bag manufacturing unit in Thirunagar. The unit, run by 12 women since December 2021, produces eco-friendly bags with support from cooperative bank loans and government training. He reviewed their operations and encouraged their entrepreneurial efforts.
The day's events were attended by MPs S. Jothimani and K.E. Prakash, MLAs Balaji, R. Manickam, R. Elango, and K. Sivagama Sundari, Collector M. Thangavel, Karur Mayor K. Kavitha, and other senior officials.
