Monday, August 14 2006 15:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tuticorin: The Central Government has allotted Rs 6,500 crore to Tamil Nadu for rural development, local administration minister M K Stalin said.

With this fund, basic amenities like drinking water and drainage facilities, road and lights would be provided, he told reporters at the collectorate here yesterday (Aug 13, 2006).

Later, speaking after distributing an amount of Rs 2.80 crore as welfare assistance to benificiaries, he said the makalir thittam (women's schemes) had been brought under the control of the rural development agency.

Stating that there are 13039 Self Help Groups in the district, he said the welfare assistance distributed was through the form of revolving fund.

"In Tuticorin district, an amount of Rs five lakh had been allotted for construction of cement roads at Ettayapuram. The bukkul canal would be maintained under the Tuticorin beautification scheme. new buildings would be constructed for Tiruchendur and Sattankulam town panchayats at an estimated cost of rs 10 lakh," he said.