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J.Jayalalitha, C.M., Tamilnadu
J.Jayalalitha, C.M., Tamilnadu
For the past one week, we hear about Jayalalitha, everyday, here, in Chennai. Whether we open the magazines or news papers, her face glares at us. She has become the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu for the third time. Karunanidhi, the ex-CM of Tamilnadu (he was a 5 time CM of Tamilnadu!), got only 30 seats out of 119 during this election!
Jayalalitha is very famous for her intelligence, language flair and mainly for her arrogance ! She is very short-tempered and doesn't think twice to hurt any person, whether it is our Ex-PM, Vajpayee or our current PM, Manmohan Singh or the Congress party President Sonia Gandhi. The people of Tamilnadu just wanted to get out of Karunanidhi's family rule and voted for Jayalalitha! When we were discussing about her at home, we just thought that instead of Karunanidhi's family, Jayalalitha's close aide, Sasikala's family will rule, behind the curtains!
Then I read an article in the famous Tamil magazine 'Junior Vikatan' this morning, I thought 'maybe we are wrong' and we want to be wrong! Now, to the article:
As soon as she signed the papers for the new post of Chief Minister, she signed the files regarding the 7 promises she did during the election tour. From the next day, the usual routine of transferring the 'bad' officials started. Then, she started showing some signs of her plans...may be, this time, she really wants to do something good for the state. She arranged for a 3 day 'training class' for her ministers. It was not just full of bland speeches, but action oriented classes! She spoke like a Head Mistress of a school. She was not impatient with anyone but patiently explained how the Ministers should run their department to fulfil the dreams of the people of Tamilnadu. Even the Ministers had not seen this side of Jayalalitha until then!
Mr. V.Ponraj with Dr. Abdul Kalam
Then I read an article in the famous Tamil magazine 'Junior Vikatan' this morning, I thought 'maybe we are wrong' and we want to be wrong! Now, to the article:
As soon as she signed the papers for the new post of Chief Minister, she signed the files regarding the 7 promises she did during the election tour. From the next day, the usual routine of transferring the 'bad' officials started. Then, she started showing some signs of her plans...may be, this time, she really wants to do something good for the state. She arranged for a 3 day 'training class' for her ministers. It was not just full of bland speeches, but action oriented classes! She spoke like a Head Mistress of a school. She was not impatient with anyone but patiently explained how the Ministers should run their department to fulfil the dreams of the people of Tamilnadu. Even the Ministers had not seen this side of Jayalalitha until then!
She had invited the adviser to our ex-President, Dr.Abdul Kalam, Mr.V.Ponraj to give some advice to the new ministers. She seems to be close to Dr. Abdul Kalam and takes advises from him.
Mr. V.Ponraj with Dr. Abdul Kalam
Now, to the gist of her speech to her ministers, during the 'training camp':
The people of Tamilnadu have elected us with a thumping majority and it is our duty to honour their faith on us by giving good governance. This time we we have included new young people in the ministry, in the hope that you will be able to do justice to your department. I have arranged this workshop to guide you to excel in your work. You can always ask them (people like Ponraj) for guidance, if you have any doubts, any time.
Mr. Ponraj spoke for 3 hours on the first day, they say. He spoke about agriculture for 1 and 1/2 hours. The gist of his speech:
58% of our people rely on agriculture but the state gets only 2% of revenue through agriculture. Gujarat gets a profit of 9%. We have to increase production and curtail brokers' influence. Then the farmers will wholeheartedly join together and we can have an agricultural revolution. This will enhance the status of the farmers.
Then the CM said that to improve agriculture, 'first we should clean the water bodies in the villages and improve water collection/storage. The main agenda of this government will be to improve agricultural production'.
Ponraj said that arrangements should be made to provide drinking water free of cost to poor people and with minimum cost to other people, which would reduce health hazards.
Then the CM discussed about the main draw back of the state - power cut. This would be rectified within three months, she said. 'Tamilnadu needs 10,200 M.W. power but we produce only 7,200 M.W. Solar energy plan will be implemented to provide 3000 more M.W. of power. Free power to farmers will be given but the govt. will keep an eye to check if it is used properly', she said. The new Minister for Electricity, Mr. Naththam Viswanathan promised that all steps would be taken to ease the power situation.
Many other topics were also discussed in the camp. I liked this, the most:
The govt. wants to take steps to reduce the load of books carried by the children everyday to school. They can carry only one book, which will cover all the subjects for the first 3 months. Then another book for the next three months...(if this method is possible and good, the children will be very grateful to the CM!).
The CM took the topic of toilets in the schools. She said, 'many schools in our State do not have proper toilets, even the girls schools. So, steps will be taken to rectify this problem as early as possible'.
During her earlier term as CM, she had implemented 'Rain water harvesting' and the water table of many areas had improved so much that people of Chennai and other States too praised her for this. New buildings without 'Rain Water Harvesting' provision, were not given power connection! Even in our road, the Panchayat officials came door to door to check if the houses had rain water harvesting pipes!
Shall we be happy and hope for a good 'acting' government in Tamilnadu? She need not worry about Karunanidhi anymore. Except Stalin, his second son (I feel sorry for him because he tried his best to do something good for the people), no other family member is capable of coming back to power. She has got a free hand now. Whether she is implementing Dr.Kalam's dream or hers, it will be good for our State. She might become one of the best CM of Tamilnadu. Hope for the best!
Sorry, this has become a very looooong post!
Just one more line...I did not vote for AIADMK because the candidate was a wine merchant and not a ...forget it! He has won, though!
Picture courtesy: Google
The people of Tamilnadu have elected us with a thumping majority and it is our duty to honour their faith on us by giving good governance. This time we we have included new young people in the ministry, in the hope that you will be able to do justice to your department. I have arranged this workshop to guide you to excel in your work. You can always ask them (people like Ponraj) for guidance, if you have any doubts, any time.
Mr. Ponraj spoke for 3 hours on the first day, they say. He spoke about agriculture for 1 and 1/2 hours. The gist of his speech:
58% of our people rely on agriculture but the state gets only 2% of revenue through agriculture. Gujarat gets a profit of 9%. We have to increase production and curtail brokers' influence. Then the farmers will wholeheartedly join together and we can have an agricultural revolution. This will enhance the status of the farmers.
Then the CM said that to improve agriculture, 'first we should clean the water bodies in the villages and improve water collection/storage. The main agenda of this government will be to improve agricultural production'.
Ponraj said that arrangements should be made to provide drinking water free of cost to poor people and with minimum cost to other people, which would reduce health hazards.
Then the CM discussed about the main draw back of the state - power cut. This would be rectified within three months, she said. 'Tamilnadu needs 10,200 M.W. power but we produce only 7,200 M.W. Solar energy plan will be implemented to provide 3000 more M.W. of power. Free power to farmers will be given but the govt. will keep an eye to check if it is used properly', she said. The new Minister for Electricity, Mr. Naththam Viswanathan promised that all steps would be taken to ease the power situation.
Many other topics were also discussed in the camp. I liked this, the most:
The govt. wants to take steps to reduce the load of books carried by the children everyday to school. They can carry only one book, which will cover all the subjects for the first 3 months. Then another book for the next three months...(if this method is possible and good, the children will be very grateful to the CM!).
The CM took the topic of toilets in the schools. She said, 'many schools in our State do not have proper toilets, even the girls schools. So, steps will be taken to rectify this problem as early as possible'.
During her earlier term as CM, she had implemented 'Rain water harvesting' and the water table of many areas had improved so much that people of Chennai and other States too praised her for this. New buildings without 'Rain Water Harvesting' provision, were not given power connection! Even in our road, the Panchayat officials came door to door to check if the houses had rain water harvesting pipes!
Shall we be happy and hope for a good 'acting' government in Tamilnadu? She need not worry about Karunanidhi anymore. Except Stalin, his second son (I feel sorry for him because he tried his best to do something good for the people), no other family member is capable of coming back to power. She has got a free hand now. Whether she is implementing Dr.Kalam's dream or hers, it will be good for our State. She might become one of the best CM of Tamilnadu. Hope for the best!
Sorry, this has become a very looooong post!
Just one more line...I did not vote for AIADMK because the candidate was a wine merchant and not a ...forget it! He has won, though!
Picture courtesy: Google
17 comments :
If not for the 1 rupee and colour TV campaign, things could have been different during the last election itself.
The rain water harvesting was very useful for the people of Chennai, and I am yet to see water scarcity after that scheme was implemented (atleast in our area).
Let us hope for the best - She is definitely capable of good governance. She now has the experience too.
Destination Infinity
She has made the right start and is clear about what needs to be done.Let us hope she succeeds in carrying the allies with her in her efforts.Apart from power cuts and law & order,it is imperative that corruption at all levels is eschewed.Here is my wishing her good luck.
Your post is well written
Let's hope that she delivers what she promises.Thanks for the details ,we don't get to know so much from our English Dailies and news channels.Blogging is wonderful in so many ways.
Destination Infinity: Karunanidhi was the one who started 'buying' votes by distributing freebees. Jayalalitha followed suit. Now, our people are used to it and it will be very difficult to change the trend.
I lived in Adyar area and though our house had good well water, the street next to us had been buying water for years. I think somebody in Besant Nagar introduced the method of rain water harvesting (I might be wrong about this) and all the houses in the next street started following this method and within two years, they were able to stop buying water except during summer. Now, even that is stopped.
She is definitely capable of giving good governance as you say, D.I. Hope for the best!
KParthasarathy: This morning one autowallah said that 'amma vandaachchu, inime meter vandudum, yengalukku...yenga pozhappukku mannu'! People always say that rowdyism will come down now.
Hope for the best and thank you sir!
Kavita: This magazine is read by Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha too and they take action for articles written in this one. This magazine had started writing about 2G spectrum for a few years now! Karunanidhi didn't give importance to it! Feel sorry for the old man. He himself dug his grave with the help of his family members. His 'health insurance for the poor' scheme and '108 free ambulance' scheme was quite famous here. The idea was given by his another daughter Selvi but this old man was crazy about this daughter, Kanimozhi. Now, he is in soup.
I agree with you Kavita! You are going places because of this medium. I am very happy about it!
Thanks so much for sharing this Sandhya.
I do hope she uses her rights well!
LOL @ the last line :P :P
Oh and glad to know abt the rain water harvesting, and the girls toilet thingy :)
I don't know much about Tamil Nadu politics, but I do hope that things will change for the better now that Jayalalitha has become CM!
After the 2G scam, the people have voted against corruption!
Swaram: Junior Vikatan is very famous here. This is not a yellow magazine or something and the news seem to be quite reliable. So when I saw this article about the 'Ministers' workshop' and their agenda, I wanted to do a post on that. And Dr.Kalam also seems to be involved. So the future of Tamilnadu seems to be bright!
Let us hope for the best!
Her rain water harvesting is talked about even now! I too liked her plan about building the toilets in schools. Hope this attitude of hers doesn't stray.
Manju: 2 G scam and the family politics has ruined Karunanidhi. He cannot sit even as an opposition leader! Jayalalitha and other politicians should remember this lesson!
After a terrible experience we have had with DMK-CONG alliance, I only hope JJ stands by her promises and doesnt make a mistake of Cong alliance
Hmm I am always very vocal about our politicians because of there past and background and the way things work in our country.
I read your post twice and I do sincerely hope and Pray that what she says , she does. Because if she can do half of what she has promised things will change dramatically.
I have no doubt that if we have proper leaders , GOOD leaders then our nation can do wonders.. We have always lagged behind becaue we dont have a dynamic leader in any of them , those who come last a few months before they succumb to the evils.
I hope she and her collegues have made enough money and that their greed is finished, if that happens we are on a roll here ..
fingers crossed :)
thanks for sharing such info ...
Bikram's
BKChowla: As far as Tamilnadu is concerned, Congress is not a party at all to contest elections, Chowlaji! They have to piggy-back DMK or AIADMK! Jayalalitha is not an easy person to keep alliance with. She has insulted Sonia many times. Even if they request for alliance, it will be on Jaya's terms! And now she has got a glorious victory. No one can do anything she doesn't like!
Bikram: As I said in my post, she is an intelligent woman and if she decides on one thing, she will do it at any cost!
If she is going to follow Dr.Kalam's advice (she has got a good team of advisers, now, I believe), everything will change here, in Tamilnadu.
Did we ever dream that Bihar would produce a leader like Nitish Kumar? The situation in that most backward State is improving dramatically, I heard. Narendra Modi is promoting his state everywhere and has got a very good name. Yes, he is a staunch BJPwallah, but Gujarat is coming up well.
Even Jayalalitha is pally pally with Modi and has requested him to lend electricity to our State to improve the power cut situation.
Hope for the best, Bikram!
whenever i c the ministers standing n praying before her, kneeling before her, my blood boils..will she change? god knows..but def TN needed a change badly from family raj..a corrupt raj that took crores away fm common people
There were some sad tales in her rule too the previous time. It is just a choice between bad and worse. But if she has improved from previous mistakes, it will be a good thing.
Am glad that she got elected too. :) Lets see the good things happening...looks like a good start. :) :)
R.Ramesh: We don't have anyother leader here, Ramesh! I still remember Sedappatti falling down in front of her! Just hope she is different this time!
Radha: It is just a choice between bad and worse - you are right Radha! She is involving Dr.Kalam and that gives hope, I feel!
Umsreflections: I liked the news about the 'Ministers' Workshop'! Lets hope for the best!
Good post mami, may be she is aiming for PM's post! Anyway if she is going to implement whatever she has promised, no doubt that it is going to be a great period for TN. guess what, I had voted for AIDMK!!!! I liked her concerns for farmers.
Lets hope for the best!
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