Karaikal: Minister V.P. Sivakolunthu has said that a Diwali package will be provided to 3 lakh ration cardholders in the Puducherry Union Territory.
A departmental review meeting was held yesterday at the Karaikal Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Administrative Complex, chaired by Puducherry Minister for Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare V.P. Sivakolunthu.
Participating in the meeting were Puducherry Agriculture Minister Rajasekaran, Opposition Leader A.M.H. Nazeem, MLAs Meenakshisundaram and V. Vigneshwaran, Social Welfare Department Director P. Ragini, and department officials.
In this, the Leader of the Opposition and the MLAs said: The vacant posts existing in the departments should be filled immediately. Financial assistance has still not been provided for 157 applications seeking aid for funeral rites.
They also raised demands including that applications seeking old-age assistance should not be considered by department officials solely on the basis of seniority, but that priority should be given to applications forwarded with recommendations.
Later, Minister V.P. Sivakolunthu told reporters: In Puducherry, within another month, all ration shops will be opened and steps will be taken to ensure they function fully.
In the state, a Diwali festival package worth Rs. 690 will be provided to 3 lakh ration card holders, including those with red and yellow cards.
This package, which includes 2 kg each of sugar and sunflower oil, 1 kg of gram dal, and 500 grams each of maida and rava, will be distributed through ration shops. He said this.
Find the groom in Puducherry itself…
Speaking at the meeting, Opposition Leader Nazim said, “It is customary to arrange marriages for girls from Karaikal with grooms from nearby Tamil Nadu areas such as Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai.
That woman comes here for childbirth. But how is it fair that the girl child born to her will not receive the Rs. 50,000 deposit under the Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme? In that case, you should find a groom for her in Puducherry itself,” he said, prompting laughter in the gathering.
Later, when Nazim questioned the officials about another demand, the minister said with a smile, “Whatever you say, the Chief Minister agrees. Then why are you grilling the officials?” prompting another round of laughter.
Later, while speaking to reporters, Minister Sivakolunthu said, “The demand regarding the deposit amount for a girl child is a reasonable one. This will be discussed with officials and considered for a solution.”