Latest news with #UDAY
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
AIADMK govt. never hiked power tariff despite joining UDAY scheme: EPS
Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said despite Tamil Nadu joining the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme during his regime, AIADMK did not increase electricity tariff in the State till he was in power between 2017 - 2021. Mr. Palaniswami's reaction comes in the wake of charges made by Tamil Nadu's Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa that the existing electricity tariff hike was due to the then AIADMK government joining the Central scheme way back in 2017. As a result, the State has to witness steady increase in power tariff under the scheme. 'We joined the scheme (UDAY) after the Centre fulfilled our two conditions, such as dropping the condition to increase the electricity tariff once in three months, and farmers should not be forced to fix electricity meters to assess total power consumption by pump sets used by them,' he said. The AIADMK leader, who was here as part of his State-wide tour, said that despite joining the UDAY scheme, the AIADMK-led government never increased the electricity tariff till the party was in power in early 2021. On the other hand, the DMK government has consistently increased power tariffs for the past four years, confusing voters into thinking that the power tariff increase was due to the AIADMK, he said. Highlighting lawlessness in the State with rising crime against women, children and senior citizens, Mr. Palaniswami blamed the DMK government for not allowing Tamil Nadu police to function in a free and fair manner. As a result, criminals have lost fear of police personnel and have dared to murder them, he alleged. The former Chief Minister said that the arrest of Madurai Mayor Indrani's husband Pon Vasanth by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is investigating the multi-crore property tax scam of the Madurai Corporation reflects the level of corruption by DMK partymen in the State.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
In a first, PVTGs in Palamu's Nawadih eye stone mining lease
Daltonganj: In an encouraging move, community members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG ) under the panchayat samiti of Nawadih, Ramgarh block, in Palamu district, are now keen to shed off their primitiveness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They are now seeking a land lease for mining stone. The PVTG is generally seen as submissive and resigned to the fate of suffering without taking benefits of govt schemes. However, at Nawadih, the PVTG wants a land lease for stone quarrying, a venture no one ever thought would come from the members of the community. On Monday, DC Sameera S, DDC Md Jawed Hussain, additional collector Kundan Kumar, and a host of other officers reached Uldanda and Nawadih to launch a pilot project named Unnat Doorasth Adivasi Yojna (UDAY), an offshoot of the PM Jan Jatiya Nayaya Maha Abhiyan. During this, a PVTG woman of the panchayat samiti, asked for a lease of land for quarrying stone. Talking to TOI on Tuesday, additional collector Kumar said, "The demand for a stone mining lease coming from a panchayat samiti woman member belonging to the PVTG surprised us. It made us feel that the PVTG, known for its self-seclusion and isolation from the mainstream, is now wanting to do something new." The PVTG woman even hinted at a chunk of land for stone quarrying near a mission school, Kumar added. However, there was also some resistance from the locals to leasing the land near a school, citing possible environment hazard. On the other hand, PVTGs in Uldanda panchayat were content with whatever they had, remarked a govt functionary. On the UDAY scheme, DDC M Jawed Hussain said, "The DC has taken this initiative to provide the PVTG with certificates and documents to ensure that they are eligible for any govt scheme or benefit." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to other officials, birth certificates were more in demand from the PVTG families, as 45 certificates were delivered at the Uldanda panchayat and 58 certificates in the Nawadih panchayat. Other certificates for caste, income and residential proof among others were also issued on the spot. There are 31 hamlets of PVTG communities in Ramgarh block with a total population of over 1,300 people.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
While in power AIADMK surrendered T.N.'s autonomy by backing Centre's policies: Stalin
DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday charged the AIADMK with having 'surrendered' Tamil Nadu's autonomy during its previous rule by supporting the Centre's policies such as the NEET and the UDAY scheme. He accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of 'betraying' the people of Tamil Nadu by aligning with the BJP. In a letter to his party cadre, Mr. Stalin alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre allocated meagre funding to Tamil, the first language in India to be recognised as a Classical Language, while allocating several crores of rupees for Sanskrit. 'Through the National Education Policy, 2020, the Centre attempts to impose Hindi. The scientifically established cultural glory of Tamils, based on the findings of the Keeladi excavation, is being deliberately withheld by the Union Government,' he said. Mr. Stalin urged the cadre to honour the legacy of DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi by participating in a tribute rally on August 7, the latter's death anniversary, towards his memorial at Marina beach in Chennai and to pledge their commitment to securing victory in the 2026 Assembly election. Recalling Karunanidhi's initiatives for the uplift of the poor and society as a whole, he said: 'Carrying forward his legacy, our Dravidian Model government has implemented schemes such as the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, Naan Mudhalvan, Pudhumai Penn, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, and Innuyir Kappom. Several States across the country have followed our initiative.'
United News of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Daily struggle with the Modi regime to protect State's rights in 4-yr DMK rule: Stalin
Chennai, Aug 3 (UNI) Launching a scathing attack at the Centre which has been denying due rights to the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin today said it has been a daily struggle for his government with an adversarial BJP-led Union Government in the last four years to protect the legitimate rights of Tamil Nadu. 'With the previous AIADMK government having signed on a charter of slavery for the entry of NEET (entrance test for UG MBBS admissions), UDAY electricity scheme, hiking property taxes, Tamil Nadu has been facing severe economic consequences,' Stalin said in an epistle to the party cadre ahead of the death anniversary of DMK Patriarch and his father M Karunanidhi. To protect the rights of the state the DMK government has been using the floor of Parliament to raise these issues besides waging a legal battle in the courts, he added. 'While Sanskrit received financial largesse, it is a pittance for Tamil, recognized first as a classical language, from the anti-Tamil Union Government, which is bent upon imposing Hindi through the New Educational Policy (NEP 2020) which will result in the extinction of regional languages. The NEP will bring back caste-based education by denying opportunities to the marginalized and backward communities. Further, it is attempting to impose the hegemonic Aryan culture and is refusing to publish the scientifically validated Keeladi excavation, which establishes the antiquity of Tamil culture,' he said. 'At a time when Governors are being used to murder democracy in states where the BJP could not come to power, the Tamil Nadu Government's legal battle in the Supreme Court has established the supremacy of elected state governments. This has helped instill confidence in democracy not only for Tamil Nadu but for all states,' he said and blamed the principal opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu for teaming up with the BJP instead of strengthening the struggle. 'By aligning with the BJP, which is discriminating against the state, the AIADMK is committing a grave betrayal, leaving the AIADMK cadres themselves aghast,' he added. Charging AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) with peddling lies in his state-wide campaign, Stalin said 'Having earned an incurable stain by crawling before the BJP for the alliance, he has been parroting only lies wherever he goes. UNI MCR GV 2140
New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Why EPS keeping mum on soaring LPG prices: Industries Minister T R B Rajaa
CHENNAI: Countering allegations made by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Industries Minister T R B Rajaa stated that Palaniswami himself was responsible for the electricity tariff hikes, having signed the UDAY scheme of the union government. In a statement released on Wednesday, Rajaa pointed out that former CM Jayalalithaa had refused to join the UDAY scheme. However, following her demise, Palaniswami rushed to sign the agreement and is now criticising the resultant electricity tariff hikes. 'Why is Palaniswami, who is speaking about the hike in electricity tariffs, afraid to speak about the steep rise in cooking gas prices? In 2014, an LPG cylinder cost just Rs 414, but now it has skyrocketed to Rs 868.50,' Rajaa asked. Listing the objectives of the meetings conducted by the CM while he was in the hospital, the minister said, 'He reviewed the progress of the 'Ungaludan Stalin' camps with the chief secretary and higher officials, and also discussed with the district collectors via video call. He also prepared the representation for the state developments, to be submitted to PM Narendra Modi during his visit to Tamil Nadu. Despite being in the hospital, he continued to discharge his duties without any interruptions.'
