Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday stressed the need for the country to emerge as a Samathuvapuram (equality village) and said that Tamil Nadu and its Dravidian model would show the way to achieve this goal.
The Samathuvapuram concept was conceived to ensure an egalitarian society and all should work together to make Tamil Nadu’s Samathuvapuram model as an example for the rest of the country, he said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Periyar Samathuvapuram at Kozhuvari and new projects at Ozhanthiyapattu near Vanur in the district.
Mr. Stalin said the concept of Samathuvapuram was introduced by the late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 1997. Claiming that Tamil Nadu remained a forerunner in the implementation of progressive schemes across the country, Mr. Stalin said that one should realise that this is the ‘Dravidian’ model.
The government had planned to establish 298 Samathuvapurams across the State. Though funds were allocated for the same, the successive AIADMK government had kept the project in cold storage. The AIADMK not only abandoned the scheme but also failed to maintain the existing ones. “As Kalaignar’s son, I have now inaugurated the Samathuvapuram in the district,” he said..
The fact that Tamil Nadu remained in a dark period during the last 10 years had been proved by the previous AIADMK government keeping the Samathuvapurams in utter neglect. The Samathuvapuram concept had been accepted by the people and this had been evidenced by 90% of the beneficiaries living on the same campus in harmony, he said, adding that funds had been allocated to renovate the existing Samathuvapurams.
On the same lines, the Anna Marumalarchi Thittam and Namakku Naame Thittam, introduced by the DMK, were also discontinued by the AIADMK government. The government was now reviving these schemes, he said.
Recalling his recent visit to Dubai, the Chief Minister said that during a chat with Tamils, he prevailed upon them to remain united as Tamils without giving room for any differences over caste and religion. “The Tamil Nadu government is committed to equal development and equal opportunities for all,” he said..
Mr. Stalin said the country should become a Samathuvapuram so that all hurdles created by caste and religion were eradicated. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated infrastructure projects worth ₹24 crore and distributed welfare assistance to the tune of ₹42.70 crore to 10,722 beneficiaries.
Later, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a footwear park at the SIPCOT industrial estate at Belakuppam near Tindivanam at ₹500 crore.
Ministers P.R. Periyakaruppan, K. Ponmudi, K.S. Masthan, Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development, P. Amudha, Director of Rural Development Praveen P. Nair, Villupuram Collector D. Mohan and officials were present on the occasion.
