MLAs Raise Red Flag Over Drug Abuse, Law & Order In TN
Tamil Nadu MLAs raised concerns over rising drug abuse among students and recent murders, urging stronger policing and urgent action to address law-and-order issues.
Government vehicles for members of the State Legislative Assembly and a monthly allowance of Rs one lakh for them were among the announcements made by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who increased the medical insurance cover to Rs 25 lakh per annum from the current Rs 5 lakh under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and raised the procurement price of milk by 'Aavin' from Rs 38 to Rs 41 per litre, benefitting 3.16 lakh milk producers.
Among the plethora of announcements made on the floor of the Assembly by Vijay on Wednesday were one on the provision of medical and surgical treatment services for transgender individuals additionally at seven government medical college hospitals. While the increase in procurement price of milk would entail an additional expenditure of Rs 360 crore per annum for the government, the MLAs were allotted vehicles for transparent and good governance.
Vijay said MLAs needed to regularly travel to their constituencies to take care of people's needs and that the government would provide cars to all MLAs to support their constituency travel, Rs 75,000 per month for the driver's salary and car-related expenses and Rs 25,000 to employ an assistant in the MLA's office.
The announcement came after VCK MLA, L E Jothimani, said in the House on August 12 that MLAs were unable to work effectively due to lack of logistics support and wanted cars to be provided to them.
The MLA from Kattumanarkoil pointed out that local-body heads had access to official vehicles as the government provided vehicles to municipal and union chairpersons, mayors and deputy mayors while the MLAs did not enjoy the same facility. Legislators were pleased when Vijay spoke to senior colleague N Anand immediately after Jothimani raised the demand in the House.
Among the announcements made by the government on Wednesday over Rs 351 crore to increase student admission capacity in government medical colleges that would get 6,098 additional seats, including 660 BSc Nursing seats, 1,925 additional seats in nursing colleges and schools, 2,778 seats across 12 paramedical courses and 735 additional seats in medical courses. The government would also establish seven new government nursing colleges.
Justifying his decision, VIjay said MLAs were required to travel in their constituencies to listen to people's grievances and to monitor government projects and the vehicles would be of help to members without financial backing and first-timers discharge their responsibilities tirelessly.
The announcement was welcomed by legislators.
TVK MLA Sabari Iyngaran said she neither had a car nor a job and when she came to Chennai by train and traveled by auto to the Assembly, the police did even believe her when she said that she was an MLA until she showed the identity card.
Another TVK MLA Sindhu broke into an old MGR song, 'Kodutthathellam Kodutthan', to thank the chief minister, who was seen smiling while other MLAs thumped their tables in approval.
TVK ally Congress MLA Tharagai Cuthbert welcomed the announcement, saying it had made the MLAs "so happy" and added that even opposition MLAs would welcome the decision.
School Education Minister Raj Mohan said that apart from helping MLAs perform their duties, the move would create employment opportunities for drivers and secretaries. The DMK slammed the announcement, calling it an unwanted expense.
