Amid reports that Pattali Makkal Katchi would tie up with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, PMK founder S Ramadoss has welcomed Chief Minister K Palaniswami's announcement to provide a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 for 60 lakh below the poverty line (BPL) families in the state affected by cyclone Gaja, drought and failure of rains.
Welcoming Palaniswami's announcement, Ramadoss said in a statement that the government should announce payment of Rs 2,000 to poor every month as a measure to eradicate poverty.
"This is a timely help extended to poor people affected by Cyclone Gaja and drought. This should be made into a permanent monthly assistance for poor workers," Ramadoss said. Palaniswami, making an announcement in this regard in the Assembly, said taking into account that the poor in several districts were affected by cyclone Gaja, failure of rains and drought, the government has decided to give Rs 2,000 as special assistance to BPL families.
He said the outlay for this will be Rs 1,200 crore and will be made in the supplementary demands for grants to be made this fiscal. In all, 35 lakh BPL families in rural areas and 25 lakh BPL families in urban areas will benefit from this assistance. The beneficiaries would include farm labourers, workers in the fireworks industry, powerloom and handloom sectors, fishermen and construction workers among others, said the CM.
