Free bus travel for transpersons, diff-abled among Stalin's 6 key announcements to mark Karuna's birth anniversary

Chennai: After launching a slew of welfare measures, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin made six key announcements, including setting up of a 500-bed multi-speciality hospital in South Chennai and free bus travel for transpersons and differently-abled persons to mark late DMK Chief M Karunanidhi's 98th birth anniversary on Thursday.

Soon after launching welfare measures, that included second instalment of Rs 2,000 COVID financial assistance to rice ration card holders, distribution of a cash assistance of Rs 4,000 and a package of ten kg rice and 15 grocery items to about 14,000 temple priests and workers, Rs 25 lakh financial assistance to members of the judiciary and police personnel and Rs ten lakh to journalists who had lost their lives due to COVID, Mr Stalin announced that a 500-bed multi-speciality hospital would be constructed at south chennai at a cost of Rs 250 crores.

Apart from announcing free bus travel for transpersons and persons with disabilities, he also announced that a state-of-the-art library would be constructed in Madurai at a cost of Rs 70 crore in memory of late Chief Minister Karunanidhi, 'Ilakkiya Mamani Virudhu' awards for noted Tamil literary figures on par with Kalaimamani awards, houses for recipients of Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi or other national awards in their district of choice and a paddy procurement and storage facility at a cost of Rs 30 crore in Tiruvarur.

Earlier, Mr Stalin announced a special incentive of Rs 5,000 to police personnel in recognition of their services by risking their lives during the COVID pandemic.

The incentive will be given to personnel ranging from Grade-2 Constable to Inspectors of Police. (UNI)