We are on the threshold of
the much debated and highly regimented Assembly elections. Only a few days are
left to take stock of the situation and cast our vote. There was not much time
for the political parties too to campaign and canvass. No meetings, no
wall-posters, no festoons, no charm in the election connected activities. The
Election Commission’s unkind restrictions placed on every kind of election work
have cast a pall of fear psychosis looming large everywhere affecting all
sections of people. Kalaignar at one point of time said, “I suspect whether I
am the democratically elected accredited Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu or the
Election Commission.”
April 13 is the Poll Day.
This is the time for voters to weigh the pros and cons of the functioning of
different political groupings throughout the past five years. This is the time
to evaluate the performance of various candidates with different political
leanings. This is the time to recall to our memory the poll-promises made by
them all on the previous occasions when they approached us canvassing votes and
whether they have accomplished them.
The battle-lines are
clear. There are mainly two political groups. One is the DMK front, a well-knit
principled band of sincere people forming an alliance. The DMK, Indian National
Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Kongunadu
Munnetra Kazhagam, the Indian Union Muslim League and other fraternal parties
are part of this front. The other one is the ADMK front – a conglomeration of
unprincipled, opportunistic and double-dealing outfits including the two
Communist parties.
The process of evaluation
is very simple. You think of the DMK Front. Immediately the historic feat that
comes to your mind is that Kalaignar, as Chief Minister, on his victory in the
2006 polls, signed three government orders from the stage where he took oath of
office. The first was the Rs.2 per kg. rice under the Public Distribution
System which was subsequently reduced to Re.1 a kg., the second order being the
writing off of cooperative agriculture loans to the tune of Rs.7,000 cr. to
benefit 22,40,739 farmers and the third order being providing 3 eggs a week for
school children under the nutritious noon meal scheme, which was subsequently
increased to 5 eggs a week.
Is it not an
accomplishment of poll promises made during the election campaign being
implemented immediately on the day of assuming charge which has no parallel in
the history of the whole world, a feat fit enough recording in the Guinness
Book of Records?
Before going to the
polling booth,
·
Think of Free 108 Emergency Ambulance scheme with the central assistance
which has benefited 8,08,907 persons so far and also saved lives of 42,232
persons.
·
Think of Kalaignar Housing scheme for converting 21 lakh huts into
concrete houses in a period of 6 years.
·
Think of the grant of free house sites to 1,58,08,288 families.
·
Think of Kalaignar Insurance scheme under which 2,70,265 poor people got
their life saving surgeries at a cost of Rs.702 cr.
A number of such schemes
are still under continuous operation. Are not these welfare activities proof
enough of the DMK’s sincere performance of their poll promises. In fact, the
108 Emergency Ambulance scheme and Kalaignar Insurance scheme are not poll
promises. These innovative special schemes were introduced much later as new
schemes outside the Election Manifesto.
While we are able to
present such a big list of achievements, can we cite one example during the
period of Jayalalitha’s rule (1996-2001 or 2001-2006)? All we remember are the
dismissal of government employees, atrocities against the newsmen and a host of
infamous activities.
All the schemes of the DMK
are people oriented. Arignar Anna used to tell that in any government the
benefits should reach those for whom they are intended. The magic of
Kalaignar’s government is that his welfare schemes have in full measure reached
the target people. It is the result of the enhanced effectiveness of the
well-designed monitoring teams. It is an on-going process. A silent revolution
is taking place with the sincere involvement of the people and their
cooperation is the key for the success of the DMK government.
The three basic needs of
the people – food, clothing and shelter are provided by Kalaignar’s DMK
government. The present DMK government distributes through the PDS 35 kgs of
rice for a family of 5 persons at the rate of 7 kgs per head at Re.1 per kg.
and free of cost for certain sections. The ten items of provisions for Rs.50 fulfilling
family needs are sold through ration shops. During Pongal, the harvest
festival, sarees and vettis are distributed to the people. Shelter for all is
also in the process of continuous construction of concrete houses and will be
completed before 2016. The social assets created like road overbridges,
subways, roads provided to link hundreds of villages, overhead water tanks,
transport facilities, newly constructed school buildings, Uzhavar sandhais are
the tell-tale witnesses speaking volumes about the amazing performance of the
DMK government during the past five years. DMK has done what it promised. DMK
has additionally offered many services it has not promised. DMK will accomplish
all poll assurances now made during the next five years.
On the contrary, ADMK has
nothing – not even one worthy contribution – to blow its trumpet. The public
are a satisfied lot and so there is no anti-DMK or anti-incumbency factor which
is only a mirage. Tamil Nadu under the DMK’s benevolent rule during the past
five years stands first among all the states in India in all respects. One
therefore has no other option than to cast his/her decisive vote in favour of
DMK.
It is wise to vote for DMK
to have continuous benefits and overall development of Tamil Nadu under all parameters.
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