Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday announced the dispersal of Rs 1,000 crore fund to repair the damages caused during the unprecedented rains and subsequent floods in Chennai in November and December 2021.
On the last day of the two-day Assembly session, the Chief Minister responding to the accusation of the Opposition leader on the closure of Amma clinics, also assured that Amma canteens in the state would not be shut.
On Friday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin during his address said, “The rain damage assistance for farmers cultivating in over 1.62 hectares of land will be disbursed and the assistance will cost Rs. 132 crore to the state’s chequer. The state government will disburse the sum from Saturday even though the Central government did not release the funds yet.”
The reference was mentioned even on Wednesday in TN Governor RN Ravi’s address where the Governor asked the Centre to release the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to undertake relief and restoration fund.
Further, the Chief Minister said, “The state government announced that state-run schools will be upgraded with smart classrooms. The initiative will be extended to Adi Dravida and tribal schools in the state and additional funds will be allocated.”
The DMK-led government is swiftly acting on sexual abuse cases reported by women and children and POCSO cases, he said adding, in Chennai after the government was formed in May, 338 POCSO cases were reported of which 135 cases are already charge-sheeted.
All the more, Stalin later went on to assure the Opposition that the Amma canteens would not be closed. The Chief Minister citing the allegation of the Opposition leader Palaniswami that DMK is closing the schemes launched by the previous government, said, “The government does not want to close Amma canteens and that is my stand and it will continue to be my stand.”
Nextly, in order to repair the rain damages caused by Chennai rains, the Chief Minister said, works will be undertaken at the cost of Rs 1000 crore.
Finally, the CM also said that out of the Rs 543 crore fund received under Chief Minister's fund Rs 541 crore has been spent for containment of COVID-19 and the pandemic-related assistance.
Later, the Assembly session was adjourned without the mention of the next session.