Fee Exemption Extended to Aided Colleges

Fee Exemption Extended to Aided Colleges

Chennai: Providing higher education free of cost in Government-aided colleges, clearing the backlog of jobs for Dalits, evolving consensus on vital issues, taking care not to dilute basic feature of the Constitution and implementing a Rs.29 crore drinking water supply scheme in three drought-hit districts were among the announcements made by Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan in the Assembly on Friday.

Replying to the general discussion on the budget, Mr.Anbalazgan said the Government would convene an all party meeting on the issue of reservation for Other Backward Classes in Central educational institution of excellence if the parties favoured such a more. He stressed the need for upholding the “supremacy of the legislature.”

United Stand:

He welcomed Congress Legislature Party Sudarsanam’s call for a united stand on the Cauvery issue. Care must be taken to ensure that views expressed on inter-State issue did not go against the State’s interests.

The Government accepted the plea to grant exemption from payment of tuition fees to all students doing under-graduate courses in the Government-aided arts and science college too, to enable students from the lower strata of society to pursue higher education.

It would implement a Rs.29-crore project to provide drinking water to drought-hit Perambalur, Vellore and Krishnagiri districts. The amount would be earmarked from the Calamity Relief Fund.

Recalling the steps taken by the then DMK regime during 1996-2001 to clear the backlog of posts reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, he said the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government did not continue the process. This backlog would be cleared

Allaying Apprehensions about the Government’s demand for amending the Constitution, Mr. Anbazhagan said the DMK would not back any attempt to belittle the contributions of B.R. Ambedkar in evolving the Constitution.

It would not support any move to deviate from the basic features of the Constitution.

Sharing members’ concern over escalating land cost in Chennai and other areas, he said the Government would find ways to evolve a system to regulate land purchase.

Referring to Leader of the opposition Jayalalithaa’s remark that she would not be given a proper opportunity to speak on the budget, he said deputy leader of the AIADMK O. Panneerselvam spoke time would have been allotted to her.

A total of 44 members participated in the 18-hour debate, he added.

Mr. Anbazhagan also refuted the AIADMK charge that the State was heading for a fiscal collapse and decadence of its economy.

Fiscal Deficit:

The projected fiscal deficit constituted only 2.84 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product and was well within the limit.

This was less than deficit that prevailed during that prevailed during the AIADMK rules.

He attributed the investments to the tune of Rs.10, 000 crore in the industrial sector to investor-friendly climate such as accessibility to the Chief Minister and single window system

A total of 38, 432 persons had been appointed to various posts and 53,005 personnel had been promoted after the DMK came to power, he said.

The House passed the Tamil Nadu Appropriation Bill and the Tamil Nadu Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill Moved by Mr.Anbazhagan

Fee Exemption Extended to Aided Colleges

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