Tamil Nadu: Special project implementation department fights to stay relevant
Welfare schemes suffer as TN stares at huge debt.
Chennai: With the state government facing a debt of Rs 2.5 lakh crore, the special project implementation department, a brainchild of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, created to oversee the welfare and freebie schemes is fighting to stay relevant.
The department, which handles several flagship schemes like distribution of free laptops, free home appliances (fan, mixie and grinders), distribution of milch cow and goat, marriage assistance along with eight grams of gold coin for poor women is slowly losing its significance, as the state finance department is now reeling under financial crunch, admit informed official sources.
Several schemes offering freebies like free milch cows, free laptops and bicycles are facing cash crunch and the annual allocation has come down for these projects, said an informed state official.
For instance, under the free laptop scheme, 31.78 lakh laptop computers were distributed to students from 2011 to 2016. Though the schemes are continuing, budget allocation has been reduced.
A sum of '890.00 crore was allocated in 2016-17 and '889 crore was spent during the last fiscal and for this fiscal Rs 758 crore has been provided for the supply of laptop computers and this a reduction of Rs 132 crore, sources said adding that the state will also save another Rs 1,000 crore by not committing on the earlier projects like free mixie, grinder and fans.
In case of free milch cow scheme, the state will continue the project but it will be taken up in a small manner.
The scheme will resume will only after the drought season is over and right now the state is focused on minimising the mortality of cattle in delta and western districts due to severe drought, an informed official said.
During 2016-17
- The state spent Rs 487 crore for free distribution of handloom cloth
- Rs 409 crore on uniforms to students
- Rs 182 crore for free livestock scheme
Under the free laptop scheme, 31.78 lakh laptop computers were distributed to students from 2011 to 2016. Though the schemes are continuing, budget allocation has been reduced