Dhotis, saris distributed in Cuddalore, Villupuram

Special Correspondent
CUDDALORE: Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam inaugurated the distribution of free dhotis and saris for Pongal festival this year at Kurinjipadi near here on Tuesday.
In Cuddalore district, a total of 6,05,555 saris and 6,19,145 dhotis would be distributed in a week, the Minister said. The government was giving away free colour television sets, cooking gas connections and supplying rice at Rs 2 a kg through fair price shops. It had also arranged the supply of pulses through the fair price shops and efforts were under way to supply cement at reasonable price.
Steps had been initiated to take medical care to the needy in the right hour, Mr. Panneerselvam said. A sum of Rs. 274 crore had been allocated for the construction of additional buildings in Government Hospitals of which Rs. 6 crore was set aside for Cuddalore district, he said.
Earlier, Kurinjipadi lacked medical facilities. But, in the past two years, the Government Hospitals were provided all the necessary equipment. For instance, Rs 1.40 crore was sanctioned to modernise the children ward in the Kurinjipadi Government Hospital. Specialists would be inducted to give better healthcare to the people. A sum of Rs. 28 lakh would be allotted for the construction of school buildings and another Rs. 15 lakh for setting up a fish market, from the MLA Constituency Development Funds, Mr. Panneerselvam said.
At Villupuram, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy, accompanied by Collector Brajendra Navnit and officials, visited 16 villages in Koliyanur block to give away free dhotis and saris.