Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Karunanidhi released the party’s manifesto at a grand event in Chennai on Sunday evening. The DMK chief hit back at AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa’s statement at the kick-off of the AIADMK election campaign that prohibition could only be introduced in stages.
“I won’t say we will enforce prohibition by stages. We will enforce prohibition,” he said, promising that a law for alcohol prohibition would be enacted in the state if the DMK came to power. He also promised that alcohol addicts in the state would be rehabilitated and both they and TASMAC employees would be provided with alternate means of livelihood.
Besides this new law, the manifesto promised voters a slew of subsidies and development plans. Of these, some of the highlights were:
Office of Lokayukta to be established in the state.
The minimum support price of paddy and sugarcane to be increased to Rs 2500 per quintal and Rs 3500 per ton respectively. Minimum support price to be introduced for various other agricultural products.
Separate department for organic farming to be set up.
Range of other subsidies and benefits for farmers.
A new law to be enacted to provide 50 additional days of work to compliment those provided under the MGNREGA.
Allocation of Rs.10000 Crores for implementing state wide water management projects like desilting traditional water bodies to construct new canals, to augment irrigation and drinking water facilities.
Constitution of Chennai Metro Flood Control and Management Committee
Five lakh houses to be built for fishermen.
Auto-drivers will receive a subsidy of Rs 10,000 for purchasing their own autos.
Grant of Rs 1 Lakh to be given to registered graduate entrepreneurs to start small enterprises.
Filling up of all vacancies in various government departments.
Filling up of teacher vacancies in government schools and regularization of services of part-time teachers.
Industrial corridors to be set up from Madurai to Tuticorin and from Chennai to Hosur.
A new scheme to provide antenatal insurance for the mother and child to be introduced.
Milk to be provided to children of elementary schools in the mornings
Maternity leave for women will be extended to 9 months.
Arignar Anna Unavagam to be set up for benefit of poor people.
Night shelters to be established the benefit of the homeless.
The Sethusamudram project is to be revived.
Withdrawal of all defamation cases filed against journalists.
Loans of small farmers are to be waived off.
Desalination plants to be set up in all coastal districts.
Efforts to revive jallikattu and restore rekla race to be made.
Aavin milk price to be reduced to Rs 7 per litre.
Withdrawal of all cases filed against anti-nuclear activists in Kudankulam.