Identifying seven key areas, including ensuring social justice, that need to be focused on to “reclaim” Tamil Nadu, DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday presented his “10-year vision” for the state by promising a slew of things, including Rs 1,000 a month as “rightful pay” for homemakers and generation of 10 lakh jobs every year.
Addressing a massive public rally in Tiruchirappalli, the central Tamil Nadu city historically significant for the DMK, Stalin vowed that the government that will be formed after the April 6 election will be that of the party's and gave an assurance to people that it will not be a dispensation of just a political party but of the “entire Tamil race.”
In his address during which he identified seven areas that the DMK government if voted to power will focus on, Stalin also reaffirmed that a party-led alliance was stitched together on “ideology” and not just to fight elections. He also said the seat-sharing talks with alliance partners were nearing completion.
The seven areas identified are growing opportunities and a prosperous Tamil Nadu, increasing the yield and making the farmer happy, unlimited water for all, high-quality education and health for all, better town and country planning, urban development and social justice – a Tamil Nadu for everyone.
“The government that we form after the results are declared on May 2 is not just the government of a party. It will be a government of the entire Tamil race. It is the duty of everyone to help me in fulfilling the promises that I have made here today,” Stalin told the public rally.
Accusing the AIADMK government of “ruining” Tamil Nadu in the past ten years, Stalin also took a dig at the ruling party on corruption. In his vision for the state, Stalin said over the next ten years, the goal would be to achieve double-digit growth that will exceed Rs 35 lakh crore, increase the per capita income to Rs 4 lakh, and generate 10 lakh jobs every year to halve the unemployment rate.
“To lift one crore people from abject poverty and make Tamil Nadu the first state in India that will not have even a single person below the poverty line. To increase the consumption of water per individual from nine lakh litres to 10 lakh litres a year,” he said.
Harping on social justice, Stalin said all homemakers will get Rs 1,000 a month as “rightful pay”, promised to double the scholarship amount for SC, ST and OBC students and gave an assurance that manual scavenging will be abolished once and for all.
He also said the aim was to triple the percentage of gross state domestic product (GSDP) on education and healthcare from 1.9 per cent and 6 percent respectively and to reduce the school student drop-out rate from 16 per cent to 5 per cent.
Establishing model schools and hospitals in all panchayat unions, doubling the number of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other graduates increasing the percentage of households that possess drinking water connection from 35 to 75 by providing tap water facilities to an additional 36 lakh households and to implement the solid waste management system in all urban areas are some of the other promises.
Stalin also promised to increase the percentage of concrete houses in rural areas from 57 to 85 per cent by constructing another 20 lakh houses and providing drinking water connections to every household in the villages. Besides roads that brave all seasons, Stalin also promised broadband connection in all villages.