Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has said she would continue to serve the people of Tamil Nadu unmindful of the criticism or appreciation of others.
Laying the foundation stone for Rs 240 crore worth new schemes, including distribution of various welfare measures for Rs 71.82 crore to over 1.02 lakh beneficiaries at a function at Thiruvanaikovil, here, on Monday, Ms Jayalalithaa said the government had acted swiftly to provide Rs 850 crore relief to Thane-affected people of Cuddalore and Villupuram. Besides, 1 lakh concrete houses will be built for those who lost their houses to the cyclone.
She had also announced Rs 790 crore rehabilitation schemes, to be implemented over five years, for the affected farmers in the two districts.
Without naming DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, she took a dig at him for criticising the government’s relief measures in the cyclone-affected areas. “While the speedy measures taken by the state government are hailed by everybody, one who never bothered about the people has criticised it,” she said.
However, she would continue to strive to serve TN unmindful of the criticism or appreciation.
While her government was focusing on inclusive development and supplying cost-free articles and cows and goats to the needy, the DMK government had worked for the development of its own family, she charged.
Coming down heavily on free supply of colour television sets by the previous DMK government, she alleged that the scheme was implemented to boost the income of television networks run by Mr Karunanidhi’s family.
Various schemes were now being implemented in her Srirangam constituency, she pointed out.