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Erode is famous all over the world for so many reasons
It is the home of one of the greatest social reformers and revolutionaries of the 20th century, Thanthai Periyar EV Ramasami, who still continues to inspire all of us.
It is also the home of Theeran Chinnamalai and Tiruppur Kumaran, two valiant freedom fighters.
The Congress party enjoys immense goodwill and support amongst the people of this state.
This is mainly because of our National leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi who had a special place for Tamil Nadu in their hearts.
It is also because of the outstanding work done by K. Kamaraj, when he was the Chief Minister in the state. (The Congress if pledging to bring the golden period of Kamaraj rule back in Tamil Nadu). If Tamil Nadu is amongst the best states in India today in a number of areas it is because of the foundations of these achievements were laid by Kamarajji and the Congress.
In the last four and half years, ever since the UPA Government came to power at the centre, we have taken special care to ensure that the concerns of the people of Tamil Nadu are addressed.
Our focus has been on expanding essential infrastructure in villages, towns and cities particularly water supply, sanitation, roads and communications.
In the next three years, almost the entire network of meter-gauge railways will have been converted to broad-gauge so that trains can run faster for your convenience.
Two big nuclear plants are being built in Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district and they will start generating power soon.
We are using coal, lignite and our water resources to generate power. In Tamil Nadu, we are also using wind energy in a big way. But we are a country of over 100 crore people and we add almost one and a half crore every year. That is why nuclear power is so very crucial; this is why we have the 123 agreement. The more nuclear power and energy we are able to produce, the more electricity will be made available to our farmers, our factories and our homes.
A number of textile parks are being established and the first such park is going to start very soon near Erode itself. Our UPA government has introduced a number of incentives to the textile industry, including handlooms and power-looms so that it provides more and more employment. The leather industry too is receiving special emphasis, again because of its employment potential-particularly of women belonging to the weaker sections of our society.
Our government introduced the National rural Employment Guarantee Act to assure employment for a hundred days a year to all those seeking work in rural areas. We have also introduced new laws to protect the rights of tribal communities living in and around forest areas. New schemes have also been launched for providing life and health insurance to workers in the unorganised sector, especially landless labour.
Your are all aware that we introduced a massive loan waiver scheme of 65000 crores for farmers all over the country and I am glad to say that 15 lakh farmers in Tamil Nadu have benefited to the tune to Rs 5000 crores. In addition to the loan waiver scheme, our government has taken a large number of measures for the welfare of farmers and their families-ensuring more fertilizers and seeds, ensuring timely bank credit and assuring more remunerative prices for farm produce. Last year the minimum support price for paddy was Rs. 745/- per quintal and this year we have increased it very substantially to Rs. 850/- per quintal.
Along with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu is India.s leading state in the women.s Self Help Groups movement. Tens of thousands of these groups have been supported in the State through bank finance. These Self-Help Groups have created a new awareness and confidence amongst women and are bringing about quiet but sure social transformation in villages.
The empowerment of the weaker sections of society has always been a matter of highest priority for the Congress party. Our Government has now introduced reservations for OBCs as well, which will enable lakhs of boys and girls from these deprived communities to fulfil their aspirations to study professional courses like engineering, computers and medicine.
A large number of scholarships and loan schemes through banks have been introduced to enable boys and girls to pursue such professional courses.
Over the last four years, Tamil Nadu has received massive new investments in industries like automobiles, Telecommunications, Computers and information Technology. This has helped in stimulating growth of small and medium enterprises. These investments upgrade the skill level of our youth so that they enjoy a higher standard of living.
You will be glad to know that tomorrow I will lay the foundation stone for the expansion of the modernization of the prestigious Salem Steel Plant, a factory that was about to be closed down when NDA Government was in power.
Friends, the heritage of the Tamil Language and culture is very rich and ancient. It is in recognition of this heritage that I am pleased to tell you that our UPA government is setting up Central Institute of classical Tamil in Chennai. This institute will, I am sure further propagate the glory of Tamil Language all over the World.
You know that today India is living in a World that is interdependent, in a world in which what happens elsewhere affects us. Prices have increased in our country because of the increase of prices of crude oil and other commodities like steel. But we are doing all that is required to ease the burden. I assure you that this will continue to receive our undivided attention.
Friends, the Congress Party is the only party in the country that appeals to and derives its strength from each and every section of the society. We are the party that unites. Other parties divide us on the basis of caste or language or religion or region. We are the only party that has time and again demonstrated its profound commitment to communal harmony and social peace. In or out of power, the Congress has demonstrated very powerfully its concern for the welfare of the poorer and deprived sections of the society. We always think of the people first. That has always been our guiding principle and that will remain so.
I thank each and every one of you for being here this afternoon. I am overwhelmed by your love and affection. Nandri.
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