Latest news with #Thayumanavar
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Palaniswami raises doubts over ‘Thayumanavar' programme
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday raised doubts over the DMK government's 'Thayumanavar' programme aimed at delivering ration goods at the doorstep of the elderly citizens and persons with disabilities. 'Is there any clarity in the programme launched by you a few days ago? Which vehicles do you intend to move the ration goods with? There are reports that private vehicles are used. How will pay for these vehicles? Is there any agreement with them [the vehicle owners]? Will you release the tender details?' he said. Referring to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's statement that an additional expenditure of ₹30 crore was to be incurred, Mr. Palaniswami asked, 'To whom is this sum going? Is it for the owners of the private vehicles? Or the DMK men? Or for advertisement?' Recalling the Finance Minister's statement in the 2024-25 Budget speech, the former Chief Minister said there was an announcement about the 'Thayumanavar' programme meant to ensure education, employment, skills training, among others. He asked whether this initiative was different from the one launched a few days ago. During AIADMK rule, about 3,500 mobile ration shops were launched in 2020 to deliver ration goods in 37 districts, he pointed out. The AIADMK general secretary also criticised the DMK government for having 'copied and pasted' what was the AIADMK government's idea.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin's convoy causes traffic disruption on Anna Salai for two hours
CHENNAI: On Tuesday morning, vehicular movement on Anna Salai between Spencers Plaza and Saidapet came to a standstill for nearly two hours after police blocked traffic to clear the way for Chief Minister M K Stalin's convoy. Around 10.10am, vehicles were held up near the Anna flyover—close to 10 minutes before the CM's arrival—leading to severe congestion during the busy rush-hour period. Departing from the general norm of allowing the CM's car to move alongside other traffic, officers this time imposed a full stop as he travelled through Cathedral Road en route to Tondiarpet for the launch of the Thayumanavar scheme. The extended halt caused gridlock to spill over onto adjoining stretches of the arterial road. The gridlock stretched into the afternoon, and movement between Anna Arivalayam and Cenotaph Road became extremely slow. Vehicles from side streets entered Anna Salai without checks adding to the congestion. T K Sathish of Teynampet, a commuter said, 'I was heading to Nungambakkam and was stuck in traffic for more than 45 minutes. I tried to find traffic policemen but not many were in sight.' When contacted, the police said traffic was cleared with 30 minutes.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Minister KN Nehru says Tamil Nadu government will remove stray dogs; activists push back
CHENNAI/TIRUCHY: A day after the Supreme Court ordered Delhi and NCR authorities to remove stray dogs off the streets and permanently detain them in shelters, Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru told reporters on Tuesday the SC order will be implemented in the state as well, once the government receives the copy of the order. Terming the directive 'excellent', Nehru, after inaugurating the Thayumanavar scheme said, 'Stray dogs have become a major problem, and the SC's verdict on removing the canines is a good opportunity for us (to do the same). Once we receive a copy of the order, we will implement it throughout Tamil Nadu,' he said. The comments, however, have drawn flak from activists who said this was a way of covering up the failure of local bodies to bring the stray dog population under control despite spending several crores of rupees on animal birth control in the last 25 years. Shruti Vinod Raj, an honorary member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, said the gaps in the number of Animal Birth Control surgeries are yet to be addressed. In Chennai corporation, for instance, where there are around 1.8 lakh stray dogs, as per the survey commissioned by the civic body, only around 27% have undergone birth control surgeries. 'If the sterilisation coverage is around 80%, the stray dog population will come down over a period of 5-10 years. I'm not against sheltering of dogs but it should be done in specific cases like aggressive dogs, mother and pups or old and abandoned dogs,' she said. Shruti added even in the present case of having to detain 1.8 lakh dogs requires a massive spending in terms of creating infrastructure and operations including staffing and food. 'When there is no action taken in increasing ABC coverage, against unregulated breeders and owners who abandon their dogs, why is there no accountability on the local bodies,' she asked. According to data available with the board, 245 dogs of various breeds alone have been abandoned in the last six months. Activist E Martina said the order goes against the ABC Rules, 2023, which deem permanent relocation as cruelty. She said the implementation of the order would be impractical, noting Chennai alone has 1.8 lakh stray dogs but only five operational ABC centres. 'The government should focus on vaccination and population control,' she said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Elderly people, disabled get ration items at their doorstep in Coimbatore
Coimbatore: Chief Minister M K Stalin virtually launched the 'Thayumanavar' scheme in the city on Tuesday to provide ration commodities at the doorsteps of senior citizens aged above 70 years and disabled people. As part of the launch ceremony, city mayor R Ranganayaki distributed ration goods to the elderly and disabled people of ward 44 at Saibaba Colony at their doorsteps in the presence of corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran, district revenue officer Dr M Sharmila and other officials. In Coimbatore district, about 1,235 distribution teams have been formed to cover nearly 89,023 beneficiaries attached to the 1,401 ration shops under the scheme. The door delivery of ration commodities would benefit nearly 21,70,454 people across the state. Expressing relief, K Sarasvathi, 83, who received the essentials from the officials, said, "With my broken legs, I am unable to walk long distances. I was depending on my nephew or others in the area to buy essential items from the ration shop. There were times when I didn't get any help. Now, I don't have to depend on others to buy ration items, thanks to the 'Thayumanavar' scheme." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo Muthamma, 86, of Karuppusamy Street at Saibaba Colony, who could barely hear, was in tears after receiving her kit at her doorstep. She said, "My son, who used to get things for me, met with an accident two weeks ago. Since I suffer from low blood pressure, I sometimes faint and hence cannot travel alone. I was worried about whom to approach for support to get the essentials from the ration shop. Thanks to the CM for introducing such a scheme that exclusively addresses the elderly and the disabled. " Imrannazeer Hussain, a disabled youth, also received the ration kit from the officials at his doorstep. Commenting on the scheme, his father Hussain said, "Until now, either I had to take leave or get permission from work to buy essentials from the ration shop. This scheme is very much a benefit to the families like us." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Will implement SC order on stray dogs across state: Nehru
1 2 Trichy: The Supreme Court's direction to remove stray dogs from streets and keep them in shelters will be implemented across Tamil Nadu, municipal administration minister K N Nehru said in Trichy on Tuesday. Replying to questions from reporters after launching Chief Minister's Thayumanavar scheme, he said there won't be any necessity to release dogs after vaccinating and sterilising them. "Dog bite menace is becoming worrisome for us. This is a good opportunity for us. We will implement theorder in the corporations and across the state," he said. The minister particularly welcomed the part of the order that allows animal activists to be prosecuted for obstructing the drive. "They have given an excellent order," he added. To a question on the demand by protesting corporation sanitary workers in Chennai that Nehru should meet them, instead of HR&CE minister Sekarbabu, he said, "I had met and talked to the representatives for four days. At least 300 have returned to work." He denied that existing workers are being replaced by those from northern states. "We are removing the waste with the existing workers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Foods for Spine Health: Foods That Fight Back Pain Learn More Undo However, we did not post anyone from outside the corporation," he said. On DMK's poll promise to make sanitary workers permanent, the minister said it was the CM's call. "The CM has asked to do what is possible," he added. On the claim of his predecessor S P Velumani that 17,000 sanitary workers were made permanent during the AIADMK regime, he said, "The workers who were made permanent were not posted for sanitary work." Nehru flagged off vehicles carrying ration items from Uraiyur as part of the Thayumanavar scheme. He also visited some houses, distributed the ration items, and interacted with the beneficiaries. On the opposition parties' criticism that the DMK govt was implementing many promises in its last year, Nehru said, "The govt can implement poll promises only one by one. The CM has been implementing more than he assured." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
