Minister for Khadi and Village Industries Board G. Baskaran distributed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs. 4.93 crore to 693 beneficiaries at a function organised here on Saturday.
Addressing the function after distributing the assistance in the presence of Collector S. Malarvizhi and local MP P.R. Senthilnathan, the Minister said the State government was implementing various welfare schemes to benefit the poor and the downtrodden.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had prevailed upon the Centre to obtain Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for ‘Narikuravas’, he said, and asked the community people to educate their children and make full use of reservation in education and government employment.
Ms. Malarvizhi said before Narikuaravas were given ST status, the district had no Scheduled Tribe community people and the jobs reserved for them in government departments remained vacant. “Now they should educate their children, make use of the reservation and develop their standard of living,” she said.
The beneficiaries included 424 people, who were given house site pattas and a total financial assistance of Rs. 4.77 crore to build houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY).
Under ‘Pudhu Vazhvu’ Scheme, 50 beneficiaries were given personal loan totalling Rs. 8.45 lakh, an official release said.
Devakottai Sub-Collector Alby John Varghese, Manamadurai MLA Mariappan Kennedy, Project Director (Rural Development) Jayakumar and Sivaganga Revenue Divisional Officer (in-charge) Rasikala were also present.
