Saturday 28 January 2012

The Healing Touch


Commenting on the first budget (for the year 2006-07) of the present DMK rule, former RBI Governor S.Venkitaramanan said that it ‘blends compassion with fiscal prudence’ and ‘will hopefully mark the beginning of a successful journey to a bright and prosperous future for the State.” Indeed! Kalaignar and compassion are inseparably harmonized and integrated. Right from his first tenure as Chief Minister during 1969-71, the schemes introduced by Kalaignar - from free eye camps, abolition of hand-pulled rickshaws and giving them cycle rickshaws then, to Kalaignar’s Medical Insurance Scheme for Life Saving Treatments now - are epitomes of compassion and humanitarianism.
Two significant steps that Kalaignar took recently flew from his innate compassion and humanitarianism. The first was an epistle he penned in ‘Murasoli’ published on October 31, hailing their services even at the cost of risking their lives and warding off blanket criticism of the entire force for stray incidents involving some individuals, and thus boosting the morale of police personnel. Kalaignar had said the actions of the Police should not be judged by isolated incidents and asserted that effective policing and enhanced vigil has kept crimes under control in the state.
The Chief Minister had said that judging the police by isolated incidents would put a ‘black mark’ on their otherwise illustrious career. “This would not only make them hesitant to perform but also turn into a social issue.” Police personnel by themselves do not constitute a community or caste and they are drawn from families of all communities. Hence to ascribe some common character for the entire force is illogical. Moreover, when terrorism of all hues is looming large over the country, it is imperative to encourage the police force and keep their morale high.
These words of defence of and praise for police force had a healing effect on police personnel who were feeling down by unwarranted and sweeping criticisms. That it had a soothing effect on the ruffled feelings could be seen from their reaction of jubiliation all over the state. They have displayed Kalaignar’s epistle on the notice boards of all police stations and in some places they have distributed sweets to the public.
The second step that Kalaignar initiated was taking quick actions to alleviate the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils living in refugee camps in the State. In an emotionally touching statement on November 1, Kalaignar said he was ‘in tears’ when he saw reports and pictures depicting the plight of the Lankan Tamils who were living in the camps without any basic amenities. “It is our duty to take quick actions to alleviate the problems of the Lankan Tamil refugees. All the departments of the State government have the responsibility to ensure food, education and peaceful life to the Tamils who left their motherland for mother Tamil Nadu” the Chief Minister had said.
In the consultative meeting of Ministers and officials concerned the Chief Minister convened the very next day on November 2, Kalaignar said the fact that they are Tamils should not be forgotten and they should not be looked as refugees. Utmost importance should be given to their problems and their sufferings should immediately be attended. It was decided to depute Ministers to all 115 camps in the state for an on the sport study of the conditions of their living and submit reports before November 10 and in the meanwhile spend Rs.12 crore immediately on behalf of the State government for improving basic amenities,  pending Centre’s sanction of Rs.18 crore proposal which was sent earlier.
The Lankan Tamils living in camps were overwhelmed by Kalaignar’s concern for their welfare and the steps he has taken to redress their grievances.
As long as Kalaignar is in the helm of affairs in the state, the interests of every section of the society are safe in his hands!        

(08-11-09)

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