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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after the swearing in ceremony. (Source: AP)
A day after being sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time, J Jayalalithaa on Sunday announced development and welfare schemes worth over Rs 1,800 crore. On reaching her office, where she spent more than an hour receiving greetings and wishes from top bureaucrats, Jayalalithaa launched several schemes, including those for improvement of roads, drinking water facilities and for helping needy families headed by women.
She reached her office at Fort St. George at 3 pm, after which she signed at least five crucial files approving the new schemes, including the opening of 201 new Amma Canteens, one of the most successful schemes she had launched in the past to provide subsidised food to the urban population. She also announced a housing scheme for the poor and setting up of RO plants for drinking water.
J Jayalalithaa signs a file at the secretariat in Chennai on Sunday.(Source: PTI)
An official release from her office said Jayalalithaa also ordered a scheme to improve roads at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. The Tamil Nadu Rural Roads Development Scheme will take up construction of a 3,500-km stretch in this financial year at a cost of Rs 800 crore.
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Earlier, top government officials had indicated that she was unlikely to announce social welfare schemes as the state was facing a fund crunch. “But, she has once again surprised all of us by announcing projects worth Rs 1,800 crore,” an official said. The launch of a special housing scheme for around 20,000 families in town panchayat areas was another key announcement she made on Sunday. Under this, an assistance of Rs 2.10 lakh will be given to convert thatched houses to concrete-roofed structures.
Under the scheme for needy families headed by women, loans with a grant component on interest will be provided to eligible beneficiaries alongside skill development training.
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