PUDUCHERRY: During the Independence Day speech on Monday, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy and his government promised initiatives to constitute a Right to Education Protection Authority.“Due importance will be given for improving the quality of education and for development of infrastructure facilities in the existing institutions. My government will take initiatives to encourage access to e-learning to improve the quality of learning in order to compete in the international arena,” Rangasamy said.“During the current financial year, `23 crore has been released as financial assistance under the ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Financial Assistance Scheme’ for CENTAC-sponsored students studying in professional colleges. As many as 5,413 students will benefit from this assistance,” the chief minister said.With a view to provide more emphasis to social justice, the UT government has formulated a new scheme for students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC). ‘Dr B R Ambedkar Financial Assistance Scheme’ has been formulated with the objective of extending financial assistance to more SC students sponsored by CENTAC in professional courses. Under this scheme, tuition fees of `1.75 lakh fixed by government would be refunded.Rangasamy said the government was keen on generating employment opportunities for local youth. “Job fairs and career guidance exhibitions have been proposed. Unemployed persons have been urged to start self-employment enterprises under special schemes. The initiation of a skill development programme is underway to impart training to about 20,200 people in five years through various skill schools.”He said the government had also taken initiatives to extend social, educational and health benefits to domestic servants through the Puducherry Unorganised Labourer’s Welfare Society. The CM revealed that the proposal for the formulation of Traders Welfare Board in the Union Territory was under active processing of the government. The Board would undertake welfare schemes for the benefit of traders and their employees.Plans for Road connectivityStressing on the fact that road connectivity and a communication network was very much essential for the UT’s development, he said the Public Works Department had proposed to undertake projects for construction of flyovers to improve road junctions at Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi Squares and maintenance of roads in the Union Territory.“The construction of the multi-purpose Kamarajar Manimandapam would be taken up during the year. The Phase II construction at Central Jail Complex, Kalapet, and the Phase II construction at the Integrated Court Complex, and the Construction of Judicial Officers’ Quarters at Lawspet are the other projects that would be taken up soon. The construction of a bridge across Thirumalairajan River in Karaikal will be taken up this year,” he said.He added that the Augmented Drinking Water Project (UIDSSMT) to supply drinking water from the reservoir of SAC barrage at Dowlaiswaram in Andhra Pradesh to Yanam region would be taken up.Increased Plan AllocationRangasamy said the territorial government had consistently increased allocation under the Plan to achieve significant improvements in socio-economic areas. “The Planning Commission has approved a plan size of `2,750 crore in the Annual Plan 2011-12, which is `250 crore more than the Annual Plan of 2010-11,” he pointed out.Rangasamy said a substantial part of the Plan fund would be utilised to improve the socio-economic status of the people and for infrastructure development.The Chief Minister revealed that the revenue generated locally through VAT and CST was realised at `224.83 crore and `82.75 crore, respectively, up to July 2011. Agriculture Census UnderwayRangasamy said preparatory work to conduct the IX Agricultural Census in the UT to evaluate agricultural programmes has begun.development corporation The Puducherry Union Territory Fishers and Fishermen Development Corporation, which has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, would be established during the current financial year as soon as an approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs was obtained, adding that the Karaikal fishing harbour would be inaugurated shortly.Assuring that the government would continue the welfare schemes of subsidies and grant-in aids, he said the old age pension for fisherfolk, which was enhanced to `1,150 in May, had benefited 6,626 persons. The CM added that the government had also proposed to equip fisherwomen with alternative livelihood. 108 Ambulance Service for PuducherryThe government has planned to start a ‘108 Ambulance Service’ in Puducherry similar to the one operated in Karaikal.He said a separate Out-Patient Department for Master Health Check up would also be started at the Indira Gandhi GGH.Rangasamy said his government would celebrate the Centenary of Mother Teresa and would strive to uphold the the principles of selfless service to humanity advocated by her.Revealing that his government was keen to bring about administrative reforms in the police force, he said the Law and Order situation in the UT had remained peaceful and crimes had been considerably controlled.Referring to the Public Distribution System, he said it was proposed to distribute 15 kg of free rice to all Above Poverty Line card holders every month in the Union Territory.Demand for Reliable Power SupplyThe Chief Minister said the government had taken considerable measures to reduce shortage in the power sector. For this `4,693 lakh has been allocated for 2011-12 to meet the demand for reliable and quality power supply.
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