Be servants of public, Tamil Nadu CM tells district collectors

Chairing a meeting of district collectors here on the second day of his consultations with officials, he also had a word of praise for their handling of the drought situation in many parts of the state last year.

"You should be forever thinking about public welfare and ready to extend them a helping hand in times of law and order problems and natural disasters... you should be their servants and provide succour to their problems," he said.

In times of problems and crises, they should be with the people, he said.

Palaniswami said it was his 'desire' to see that the officials met people's expectations in all fronts and expressed confidence that they will live up to them.

The Chief Minister had met collectors and district police heads yesterday on the inaugural day of the three-day annual exercise where he is apprised on various matters including law and order and implementation of the government's welfare schemes.

He will be addressing police officials tomorrow.

Palaniswami urged the district collectors to ensure effective implementation of various social welfare schemes, besides others targeted to benefit farmers.

District Collectors should ensure water bodies were free of encroachments. The officials must see to it that the water bodies were regularly desilted and that the full level was maintained, Palaniswami advised them.

He also asked to ensure that files pertaining to people's issues did not pile up at government offices.