After TVs, DMK promises free grinders

CHENNAI: The ruling DMK on Saturday released a rural-oriented manifesto for the forthcoming state assembly elections, promising a slew of freebies like its 2006 manifesto.
Except for a few promises like a satellite city near Chennai (it was promised in the 2006 manifesto also), four-laning of the East Coast Road and Metro rail network for Coimbatore and Madurai, the manifesto had little for cities.The shifting of focus from urban centres to rural areas is quite evident after the 2G spectrum expose.
The poll promises include 35kg rice for below the poverty line people, free wet grinders or mixies for poor ration card holders, laptops for first year college going SC/ST, MBC and BC students and bus passes for senior citizens in local town buses.
The 64-page manifesto released at the state party headquarters by chief minister M Karunanidhi also promises to increase the grant under the Kalaignar housing scheme to Rs 1 lakh from the present Rs 75,000 per house and increase assistance for pregnant women from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000.
The manifesto attempts to woo senior citizens by assuring a free monthly check-up for them at their houses by government doctors.
The party promised to increase credit limit for women self-help groups from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
Institutes of mental health have been promised for Madurai and Tiruchi.
DMK manifesto also gives assurances on making Tamil an official court language, starting consumer markets in urban areas like Uzhavar Santhai and mobile vegetable markets in cities. The DMK has pledged to take measures for protecting the lives of fishermen and retrieving Katchathivu island from Sri Lanka to safeguard the livelihood of fishermen.
It promises that kidney failure patients would get free dialysis in district government hospitals.
With a view to monitoring and regulating private hospitals, the party has promised a medical fees regulatory commission. This will help patients get treatment at reasonable cost. The manifesto assures free Rota virus vaccine, meningococcal vaccine and hepatitis vaccine for poor children.
If the party retains power, the state government would introduce free foreign languages classes in English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin in all universities.
The party has vowed to fight for securing reservation for SC/ST people in private sector also. It promises mechanised cleaning of sewerage and drains across the state. The scavenging community, who will be rendered jobless, would be provided alternative jobs.
In the 2006 assembly elections, the DMK had promised free colour TVs for poor people, two acre land for landless farmers, rice at Rs two per kg and waiver of Rs 7,000 crore cooperative bank loans to farmers.