Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin gave a Deepavali gift to light up the lives of members of the Irular and Narikuravar communities on Thursday by distributing house pattas and other welfare aid and visiting their tenements in Poonjeri village near Thirukkazhukkundram in Chengalpattu district.
Recently, Ashwini, belonging to the nomadic Narikuravar community had flagged the denial of dignity to her tribe when they were prevented from partaking food during the Annadhanam at the Sthalasayanaperumal temple. Following this, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekarbabu had partaken in a feast with them at the same temple during which Ms Ashwini expressed her desire to meet the Chief Minister. She had also pointed out the hardship faced by her community members in the village.
"On the invitation extended by Ms. Ashwini and another woman Ms. Bhavani, Mr. Stalin visited their tenements and interacted with members in their families," an official release said. He also reviewed the basic amenities in the area and assured that action would be taken to ensure drinking water, electricity and road facilities and steps would be taken to improve their livelihood.
On Thursday, Mr Stalin distributed house pattas and community certificates at the village and also launched welfare schemes and various development works to the tune of ₹4.53 crore.
House pattas were distributed to a total of 282 persons from the Irular and Narikuravar communities. Ration cards, electoral ID cards, community certificates, assistance from banks, among others were distributed to them.
Under the Chief Minister's Special Regularising Scheme, were distributed housing pattas for plots estimated to be worth ₹3.52 crore. Six were handed over orders for receiving old age pension, 21 individuals received ration cards, 18 persons received electoral identity cards, 88 people from the Irular community received ST community certificates, 34 persons from the Narikuravar community received MBC community certificates.
A total of 25 persons received cards registering them in the Tamil Nadu Narikuravar Welfare Board, 18 received orders for undergoing training to produce ornaments for their entrepreneurship, 12 persons received loan assistance of ₹1 lakh each under MUDRA scheme, banks loans of ₹10,000 each for 33 persons for undertaking small business were also distributed by Mr. Stalin.
The approval for implementing the Kalaignar Urban Development Scheme in the area and orders for construction of anganwadi centres and new classrooms for the panchayat union primary school with funds from the Madras Atomic Power Station under Corporate Social Responsibility,
Rural Industries Minister T.M. Anbarasan, Kancheepuram MP G. Selvam, Thiruporur MLA S.S. Balaji, Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister's Special Cell Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, Chengalpattu Collector A.R. Rahul Nadh and senior officials were present.
