Rs.1.73 crore for admitting SC/ST students to

private schools

http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has allotted Rs.1.73 crore for admitting SC/ST students to private higher secondary schools after completion of Std. X.

Addressing a function organised by Arignar Peravai to release a book, Kalaignar Padaipulagam, a compilation of literary reviews of his works, the Chief Minister recalled the government order issued on Saturday.

The scheme is meant for students of Corporation, municipal, government and Adi Dravidar and tribal welfare schools.

A total of 310 students (10 from each district), who score good marks in Std. X board examination, will get a chance to join a private higher secondary school of their choice. These schools could be in the same district the student belongs to or in other districts. The government will spend Rs.28,000 on a student a year, he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said he derived more pleasure from issuing orders for the uplift of the poor than penning literary works. He alleged that some people were trying to create problem for the government by questioning the arrest of a person (Kaduvetti Guru), who had threatened to kill Union Minister A. Raja. “They demand the dismissal of the government. But, we are not bothered.”

Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan said Mr. Karunanidhi had left an indelible mark in all literary forms, be it poetry, novel, drama or screenplay.

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani released the book, handing over the first copy to former Vice-Chancellor of Tamil University Agasthialingam.

Mr. Raja and poet Kayalvizhi spoke.