New farm, industrial policies coming: Governor

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 25. New State agriculture and industrial policies, a review of the transport sector, promotion of a ``Tamil NRI Consortium'' for attracting foreign investments and providing free cycles to all ``plus-two level'' girls belonging to the SC/ST are among the highlights of the Governor's address to the opening session of the 12th Tamil Nadu Assembly here today.

The Governor, Ms. M. Fathima Beevi, said agriculture being the mainstay of rural economy, a special emphasis would be given to popularise modern irrigation systems, scientific water management methods and agricultural practices for increasing production and productivity.

Pointing out that a new agricultural policy was in the offing to achieve optimal land use, reclamation of wasteland and improvement of soil health, horticulture and the like, the Governor said a comprehensive training programme for farmers in rainwater harvesting methods would be implemented.

A special plan would be prepared for encouraging farmers to run hybrid sheep farms, aquaculture farms and poultry units as additional avocation for generating supplementary income.

Local bodies poll at the earliest

The Governor said the new Government proposed to hold elections to all local bodies at the earliest. It was for a two-tier system of local administration and direct election of panchayat union chairpersons.

On the Government's decision to dissolve all primary cooperative societies, the Governor said, ``instances of malpractice will be thoroughly investigated and those involved in corrupt practices brought to book.'' Elections to the cooperative institutions would be conducted in September 2001.

Taking a swipe at the DMK Government for ``corruption and other malpractices'' in the public distribution system, the Governor said the present Government would accord high priority to ``revamping and restructuring the PDS''.

The Civil Supplies Corporation and cooperative institutions engaged in distribution of essential commodities would be computerised, enabling e-governance in procurement, marketing and financial management.

Assuring a new industrial policy for the State, the Governor said an expert committee would be constituted to undertake a study for setting up new industries. The proposed ``Tamil NRI Consortium'' would also facilitate technology transfers, she noted.

Thermal power projects, which were conceived during 1991-96 and abandoned by the previous DMK Government would be taken up for reconsideration, the Governor said. An `Energy Audit System' and `an Energy Budget System' at the levels of generation, transmission and distribution would be introduced.

To augment water availability and supply on a long- term basis, the Government proposed a five-point programme. It included implementing a time-bound scheme for providing at least one drinking water source in every habitation with a population of 100 and above, asking the Andhra Pradesh Government to complete the remaining portion of the Krishna water project, construction of two new water storage reservoirs for Chennai, implementing the new Veeranam project and urging the Centre to implement the ``Peninsular River Water Grid Scheme.''

Reservation for rural students

On the education front, the Governor said the student-teacher ratio in schools would be rationalized. A `Technology University' was proposed to be set up and all engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu would be affiliated to it. She also announced that the reservation for rural students in technical institutions and professional colleges would be enhanced from 15 to 25 per cent.

A ``massive scheme'' for training five lakh women in entrepreneurial skills for self-employment would be launched and the number of `all-women police stations' increased, the Governor said. The ``Puratchi Thaliavar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme'' would be reorganised and restructured.

Speedy action would be taken to re-examine and codify labour laws, the Governor said. Immediate action would be taken to ``revive'' the employment-intensive construction industry and real estate business.

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Cycling their way to success

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 25. Dalit and Tribal school girls in `plus-two' classes can now hope to enhance their school-going mobility. Each of them will get a free cycle under a new scheme announced by the AIADMK Government today.

The Governor, in her address to the Assembly, said a scheme for providing free education upto the post-graduate level in Government colleges for Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribe girl students would also be implemented.

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