Magalir Urimai Thogai crowning jewel of schemes: Udhaya

Madurai: Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has said Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai was the ‘crowning jewel' of schemes rolled out by the Dravidian model govt for the welfare of the people, and chief minister M K Stalin had distributed Rs5,000 to 1.31 crore families, thwarting attempts to stop the scheme.Speaking at a govt function in Tenkasi district, he said for the past three years every month, the govt provided Rs1,000 as entitlement amount to 1.31 crore women, of whom 3.30 lakh were from Tenkasi district. He listed schemes like Magalir Vidiyal Payanam, chief minister's breakfast scheme, Pudhumai Penn, and summer special fund, which provides Rs2,000 to 38 lakh widows, senior citizens, and differently abled people, in this regard.He said the CM would implement more such schemes in the upcoming Dravidian model of govt 2.0, and urged the people to continue to support the DMK govt. He cited schemes being implemented in Tenkasi district, including steps to establish Sipcot at Rs300 crore, conversion of Alangulam-Tenkasi two-lane road into four-lane at Rs 255 crore, construction of four-lane between Tirunelveli and Alangulam at Rs65 crore, and establishment of a new sports ground at Rs15 crore.Udhayanidhi inaugurated 32 completed projects worth Rs6.01 crore in the district including 30 projects worth Rs5.34 crore under rural development and panchayat raj department, a Rs22 lakh project under town panchayats department, and another worth Rs45 lakh under health department. He then laid foundation stones for 185 new projects worth Rs 55.93 crore. They included 180 projects worth Rs42.62 crore under rural development department, two projects under town panchayats department, one new project for Rs2.35 crore on behalf of municipal administration and water supply department, and two new projects worth Rs 5.69 crore on behalf of PWD. He distributed welfare scheme assistance to 7,127 beneficiaries worth Rs44.05 crore.At Valliyur in Tirunelveli district, Udhayanidhi inaugurated the newly constructed Govt district headquarters hospital built at Rs 30 crore. In the evening, he presided over a govt function at Kanyakumari District Collectorate, where he distributed welfare assistance worth Rs72.64 crore to 7,601 beneficiaries. He also laid foundation stones for 131 new infrastructure projects worth Rs18.38 crore, including road and water works across village and town panchayats, and inaugurated a tribal youth training centre established by the forest department.