Chennai, Aug 15 (IANS) It is the duty of a welfare government to provide essential items free to the poor and these should not be considered as doles, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Monday.


Poverty could be eradicated only through inclusive growth and the government is drawing up various welfare schemes towards that, she said in her address after unfurling the national flag from the ramparts of Fort St. George state secretariat.

Saluting those who sacrificed their lives and property to get India its freedom, Jayalalithaa said: "It is the duty of a welfare government to provide items to poor without charging any price. That is why soon after I assumed office I ordered provision of rice without charging any price through public distribution system."

"Poverty could be eradicated only through inclusive growth. That is why my government is drawing up various welfare schemes," she added.

Listing out the various welfare measures announced by her government - free rice, mixer, grinder, milch cow, goat, fan, laptop (for students of government owned/aided schools and colleges), marriage assistance for poor women, old age pension and others - Jayalalithaa said the schemes are designed for the economic upliftment of poor.

She said the free dhoti/saree scheme should be looked as a scheme that generates employment for handloom weavers.

Jayalalithaa said as a measure to uplift the economic condition of the rural poor her government has decided to give cows and goats to the rural poor.

She said 700,000 rural poor will be given four goats each and 60,000 milch cows would also be distributed.

Coming down heavily on the previous DMK government, Jayalalithaa said for the last five years, the people of Tamil Nadu did not have any freedom due to the adverse law and order situation that prevailed.

After the AIADMK government had come to power in the state, the people once again have the feeling of gaining independence, she said.

Jayalalithaa said her government is giving preference to setting right the law and order situation in the state and streamlining of the administration.

She said the police feared anti-social elements for the past five years and now the situation has changed entirely.

Later Jayalalithaa distributed the Kalpana Chawla Award to Sangeeta, divisional revenue officer of Thiruchirapalli and sweet packets to differently-abled children.

Independence Day was celebrated across the state as district collectors unfurled the tricolour. In many schools, students turned out early in the morning with the national flag pinned on their uniforms.