Trustworthiness and credibility will triumph

The release of the Election Manifesto of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam by President Kalaignar had actually set in motion the process of the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The steps that followed were methodical and systematic. The approach towards the would-be alliance partners was smooth and pleasing.

An Election Manifesto is the performance appraisal of the past performance together with its improvisation of future policies and programmes of a political party. The DMK is the first and foremost political party in India to form a committee of wisemen and experts drawn from different fields of activity for the preparation of its election manifesto.

The Rising Sun published in its 20.03.2011 issue, the full text of the DMK Election Manifesto for the 14^th Legislative Assembly 2011. It has been acknowledged therein that by being a part of the UPA government at the Centre, the DMK had been able to achieve a lot on the infrastructural side and broadly for the development and growth of Tamil Nadu. While the manifesto unfolds the various schemes, projects and proposals in a nutshell, it also catalogued all the achievements in Tamil Nadu during the DMK rule in different periods from 1967-1969, 1969-71, 1971-76, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-11 to elucidate and establish that Kalaignar’s DMK rule had accomplished what all it had promised to the people of Tamil Nadu during its different stints. It is also singularly noticeable that no political party in India listed its past achievements while going to the people to seek a fresh mandate. Those who cannot tolerate this enviable performance of the DMK during its rules try to find fault with every innovative new scheme it unfolds, go to public tom-toming that it is impossible and unachievable.

This was what happened during 2006 Assembly elections. About the DMK’s promise to provide free colour television sets, Jayalalitha in the Assembly on 5.4.2006 criticised that even if they (DMK) give TV sets for those who have rations cards, the cost will come to Rs.15,000 cr. and where is the money and hence it was not possible.

Rice was not even an issue, until the DMK unveiled its election manifesto. Even a day earlier the ADMK manifesto just made a passing reference that the party will strive to “maintain the price of rice, distributed through the PDS, at Rs.3.50 per kg.”

The next day, the DMK dropped a bombshell, when its manifesto said, if voted to power, the DMK government will offer quality rice, distributed through PDS at Rs.2/- per kg. Hell broke loose, with not only ADMK leader and the then Chief Minister Jayalalitha and her new found-ally cum spokesman Vaiko, also even actor Vijayakanth crying hoarse over the DMK promise.  “It is impossible, it is impossible to offer rice at Rs.2 per kg.”, they said, reacting separately over DMK’s promise. A couple of days later, came the first surprise, when Vijayakanth unveiled his party DMDK’s election manifesto. “We will offer 15 kgs of rice free to all ration card holders” he said.

If it is impractical and impossible to offer rice at Rs.2 per kg., how on earth will it be possible to offer 15 kgs, out of a total monthly quota of 20 kgs., free of cost, one wondered. As DMK took its own time to hit campaign trail, ADMK and MDMK went to town with their ‘impractical and impossible’ theory over the former’s rice offer.

“It is possible and will be implemented” Kalaignar told the DPA’s first campaign meeting in Chennai, having analysed the economics by that time. “In fact, offering 20 kgs of rice per month at Rs.2 per kg. will be first order of the DMK government, if the party is voted to power” he told the public a couple of days later.

“While people are happy about the announcement of Rs.2 per kg. offer, some of them have represented to us to distribute the 20 kg. quota as 10 kg. every fortnight. I think this can be done and it will be done” he said at Saidapet in Chennai while launching his first round of whirlwind tour of the state. As his campaign momentum picked up and ‘rice’ became the rallying point, even pushing behind the free CTV offer, both Jayalalitha and Vaiko upped their ante. “Why did not Karunanidhi do this, when he was in power between 1996-2001?” Vaiko asked.

It is history that subsequently cost of the quality rice distributed under the PDS was reduced by the government from Rs.2 per kg. to Re. one per kg. These positive actions and the distribution of CTVs to almost 90-95 % of the ration card holders improved the image of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its trustworthiness among the public.

Re.1 per kg. rice scheme had benefited 1.85 crore families; while distribution of palmolein, toor dhall, black gram, fortified wheat flour, atta and other items issued under the PDS kept the price under control, which is again an indirect social need. The government waived agricultural loans to the tune of Rs.7,000 cr. which provided relief to over 22 lakh families by fully wiping away the long pending debt-burden and allow them to live in peace with reassurance while also improving their quality of life.

The government constituted welfare boards for 34 different types of unorganized workers; distributed over two lakh acres of land to 1.79 lakh landless families. The government issued land-pattas for 8.29 lakh families.

These innumerable activities, improvements, are the results of enhanced team effectiveness. Society is witnessing this great transformation and silent revolution during the past five years under Kalaignar’s DMK rule.

That Jayalalitha is out of touch with the rural mass is amply clear by her promising 4 sheep or goats and one milch cow scheme. Obviously, she is not aware that villagefolk are no longer in the habit of sheep-rearing and animal grazing. It is also not clear, whether they are sheep or goats. An economically viable unit consists of 20 sheep and one ram. Though sheep rearing is a profitable venture what will one do with 4 sheep alone? She should have done some home-work before introducing the scheme. Times have changed now. Women in villages and towns are now busy with the women Self Help groups engaged in different activities.

If Kalaignar introduced the distribution of free gas stove and LPG cylinder, it is not just as a freebie as some political jokers comment on. The real intention behind the scheme is to bring out the housewives from out of the clutches of the smoke-filled dungeon-like kitchens. It is a socio- economical and socio- cultural stratagem adopted in the emancipation of women.

In the same coin, those who ridicule the grant of laptop computers to the new entrants in colleges as freebies with a sense of contempt should understand that a laptop computer is a necessary accessory, essential for the fast branching out education system of the 21^st century. This is an ingenious proactive scheme taking our youth to the pinnacle of the highly competitive arena.

All the schemes announced in the DMK manifesto are well planned and financially viable ones. They are not like those of the haphazardly made half-baked promises of the ADMK. People have full faith and unassailable belief in the poll promises made by the DMK because of its past performance, credibility and trustworthiness!