Latest news with #Rangasamy
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puducherry moving towards becoming a slum-free city, says CM Rangasamy
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Monday said his government aims to transform the union territory into a slum-free place. Inaugurating the first phase of an initiative to hand over to landless beneficiaries free title deeds of the sites acquired by the Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department at Manavely and Manapet, the Chief Minister said the administration was nearer to achieving the goal with 90% of slums already cleared and the inhabitants rehoused in better homes. While earlier, free land titles were given for 400 square feet units, for the first time, free land titles were being provided for 800 square feet units, he said. He also opened a community hall at Velrampet. The government has been aiming for maximal uplift while formulating and implementing welfare schemes, the Chief Minister said. He also pointed out that Puducherry pioneered a separate special component funding for Scheduled Castes years ago. This year, the allocation had been increased by ₹150 crore to fund the welfare programmes of the Adi Dravidar Welfare and Tribal Welfare department. The government will build tenements in rural areas to ensure housing for all. A committee has been formed for that. A survey will be conducted soon and apartments will be built. As an indicator of the government's priority in education, Mr. Rangasamy pointed to the introduction of 10% reservation in medical education for NEET-qualifying students from government schools. It is planned to expand the horizontal reservation benefit across higher education avenues. Towards ensuring good education for children from the SC community, a sum of ₹65 crore had been allocated this year, he added. Speaker R. Selvam, MLAs K.S.P. Ramesh, R. Senthilkumar, A. Muthamma, Commissioner-Secretary and A. Ilangovane, Department Director also participated.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
State-of-the-art diagnostic centre for breast cancer opens in city
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy launched a state-of-the-art centre dedicated exclusively for breast cancers, which is among the commonly prevalent forms of malignancy among women. Established as a city branch of the Chennai Breast Centre, the facility equipped with cutting edge technology will seek to enhance the accuracy of breast cancer detection, especially in dense breast tissue, while minimising unnecessary callbacks and biopsies. Opening the centre at Lenin Street, Mr. Rangasamy noted that breast cancer was one of the leading health concerns among women today, and early detection is critical to saving lives. He hoped that the availability of advanced diagnostic technologies in Puducherry will greatly benefit women in the region. Selvi Radhakrishna, founder, Chennai Breast Centre, said setting up a Puducherry branch was part of the mission to provide accessible, affordable, and world-class breast health care to every woman. 'With our new centre in Puducherry, we hope to empower more women with timely screenings, expert consultations, and holistic support', said Dr Radhakrishna. The centre, which will pilot the Hologic 3D Tomosynthesis Mammogram with Genius AI capabilities in the city, will offer full spectrum of services—from routine breast screening to complex breast diagnostic services, aftercare and follow up. The level of services, comparable to the main centre, will obviate the need for women patients to travel to Chennai, a press note said. N Ananthakrishnan, Emeritus Professor of Surgery and Health Professions Education, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Asha Oumachigu, gynaecologist and Mohammed Ziauddin, consultant participated. The centre also plans to run awareness drives and screening camps in partnership with local health authorities and NGOs, the press note added.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Puducherry CM Rangasamy makes case for U.T.'s inclusion in Finance Commission to NITI Aayog member
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has reiterated the demand for Puducherry's inclusion in the Central Finance Commission (CFC) during a meeting with Arvind Virmani, Member of NITI Aayog, who called on him during a visit to the city. While no formal memorandum was submitted to the NITI Aayog body, Mr. Rangasamy utilised the occasion of the meeting to press for CFC member status citing the grave financial crisis in the Union Territory that impeded the development agenda of the NDA governments at the Centre and the Union Territory. The Chief Minister pointed out that Puducherry was missing out on a share from the divisible pool earmarked for States as it remained outside the purview of the CFC. With limited Central funds and scope for generating own revenue, especially after the establishment of a separate Public Account in 2007, the Union Territory was unable to fulfil its welfare commitments or undertake development projects, he said. Mr. Rangasamy also made the case for 100% funding for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), citing the drastic reduction of Central funds in the Union Territory's annual Budget outlay over the recent years. Speaker R. Selvam, Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan and A. Muthamma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary were present. AIADMK submits memorandum Meanwhile, the AIADMK urged the NITI Aayog to consider inclusion of the Union Territory in the Central Finance Commission and a reversion to the pre-2007 practice of the Union government fully financing the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. In a memorandum submitted to the visiting NITI Aayog member, A. Anbalagan, AIADMK secretary pointed out that Puducherry's exclusion from the CFC has constrained the funds available for implementing welfare schemes. Even the State's share of 40% to CSS could not be contributed by the Union Territory. Earlier, the CSS were fully funded by the Central government and there was no State share. But this system was changed and the Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies were required to make a contribution of 40% as State's share. 'This puts our Union Territory in a difficult position. We would request you to kindly arrange for revival of the old procedure of full funding by the Union government for Centrally Sponsored Schemes,' the memorandum said. It also pointed out that Puducherry had a legacy loan of around ₹2,600 crore when a separate Public Account was adopted for the Union Territory in 2007. Repeated requests to Union government by Puducherry administration to write off the legacy loan have only gone in vain. The AIADMK urged the NITI Aayog to facilitate the waiver of the loan. Though it is another matter that Puducherry had not conducted local body election since 2016, even if such an exercise were to be completed, the Union Territory could not get financial assistance from the Central government as it was not included in the CFC. Pointing out that even the newly-created Union Territory of J&K was included in the Finance Commission, the AIADMK felt that it was imperative to include Puducherry in the planning and fund devolving body to liberate the Union Territory from the acute fiscal crisis. The AIADMK also argued that the U.T.'s inclusion in the CFC would only enable the NDA government in Puducherry, which has been executing a number of welfare schemes for the betterment of the public, to fully align with the goal of making 'BEST Puducherry' as envisaged by the Prime Minister.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puducherry Chief Minister plays down differences with L-G
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Thursday played down reports of differences between him and Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan over the appointment of Director of Health and Family Welfare Services in Puducherry. Interacting with reporters after a meeting with Nirmal Kumar Surana, BJP in-charge for the Union Territory at his residence in Gorimedu, the Chief Minister said differences between the elected government and the titular head were bound to arise considering the administrative apparatus in a Union Territory. 'There have always been differences between the elected government and the Lt. Governor in Puducherry due to the existing administrative system. Differences are there now as they have been earlier. As long as Puducherry remains a Union Territory, such differences are bound to happen. That is why all political parties want Statehood,' he said. Asked about reports of him being disappointed with Mr. Kailashnathan over the appointment of Health Director, the Chief Minister said there were minor issues in the administration and they were being sorted out. 'We all want the NDA to come back to power again in Puducherry after the 2026 Assembly poll. Discussions are on to avoid such differences and a mechanism will be put in place to sort out things in future,' he said. Denying any pressure from the BJP, Mr. Rangasamy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had always showered him with respect even when he was heading a Congress government in Puducherry. Referring to the period when he was Chief Minister of the Congress government in Puducherry and Mr. Modi was heading the BJP government in Gujarat, Mr. Rangasamy said, 'We have had a good relationship from those times. We have mutual respect for each other.' The number of seats to be contested by BJP and AINRC in the 2026 Assembly poll will be decided at the time of election, the Chief Minister said, adding that people had voted the alliance to perform. 'We will continue to serve the people and return to power in 2026,' he said. Mr. Surana said the meeting was just a routine affair and both the parties would work together to win the 2026 Assembly poll. Minister for Public Works K. Lakshminarayanan, Deputy Speaker P. Rajavelou, AINRC legislators and Independents supporting the AINRC in the Assembly attended the meeting with Mr. Surana. On the part of BJP, Home Minister A. Namassivayam and party president V. P Ramalingam were present.
NDTV
10-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Amid Buzz Over Friction With Lt Governor, Puducherry Chief Minister's Measured Response
Chennai: Amid a deepening standoff between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor in Puducherry, Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Wednesday sought to play down the crisis after meeting BJP leader Nirmal Kumar Surana, the party's in-charge for the Union Territory. For the third straight day, the chief minister and ministers from his party, the All India NR Congress, continued to stay away from work, protesting Lt Governor K Kailashnathan's alleged unilateral administrative decisions, including reshuffling of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) IAS officers without consultation and the rejection of key government proposals. After the meeting, Mr Rangasamy insisted he was under no pressure from the BJP and that such tussles between the chief minister and the Lt Governor would persist until Puducherry is granted full statehood. "Till Puducherry gets statehood, this issue will crop up," Mr Rangasamy said. "This has been there under every rule and every Governor." BJP's Surana, who flew in to defuse tensions, told NDTV that he invited Mr Rangasamy to visit Delhi for further discussions and resolve issues amicably. "As the chief minister said, there would be little issues but we would discuss and sort them. Our focus now is the 2026 election," Mr Surana said. The chief minister also stressed that he shared a cordial relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and denied the current impasse was due to any internal political pressure. Lt Governor Kailashnathan appeared to shrug off suggestions that the chief minister was boycotting office due to friction with him. "It doesn't appear so to me," he said. The political deadlock sparked renewed calls for statehood, with the NR Congress demanding a special session of the assembly. The party was founded on the promise of securing full statehood for Puducherry, which remains a Union Territory governed under a dual administrative system. Though previous regimes, including during the Congress-UPA era, have also seen tensions between the Lt Governor and the elected government, the current episode underscores the need for clarity and balance in the roles of constitutional authorities in Puducherry's governance. In the past, the Supreme Court underscored that the Lt Governor can't act independently but only on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The power must lie with the elected government and the Lt Governor can't be an "obstructionist", the Supreme Court has said.
