‘If elected, will hold civic polls, boost SHGs’

After participating in the Grama Sabha meeting at Seegampatti near Manapparai, the DMK president presided over a similar meeting at Navalur Kuttapattu where a few women spoke of problems the Women Self Help Groups (SHG) were facing at present.

The women listed out the problems, including in fund transactions faced by them.

One of the women said, “During the DMK regime, SHGs were given importance. The groups got lot of financial support. But now, the groups are not properly supported by the government. Hence, if the DMK comes to power, you should oversee the affairs of Women Self Help Groups.”

Responding to it, Stalin ensured that the SHGs would be revived and he would hold the department even after he becomes the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the people raised issues regarding poor basic amenities at the village. Stalin told them that all the problems were due to the absence of local body representatives. “If you all voted the DMK to power, we would immediately conduct the elections to local bodies,” he added.

“In my 50 years of public life, I have seen many chief ministers in the state but no government was worse than the present one. Because, the present rulers do not have the confidence of coming back in next election,” he stated.

He lauded the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa and said she had implemented several schemes as promised and was tactful in administration.

“But the present rulers are spoiling the administration without even attempting to follow their leader’s legacy,” Stalin quipped.