Rs. 7.69 lakh sanctioned for setting up special school at Kattumannarkoil

CUDDALORE: 

           The State government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 7.69 lakh for setting up a special school for the differently abled children (with mental retardation) at Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district, according to M. R. K. Panneerselvam, Health Minister.

           He made this observation at an official function held at Rasapettai near here recently to hand over the permanent houses. The Minister said that in the special school students in the age group of five to 15 years would be admitted. The school, to be run by the Oasis, a non-governmental organisation, on the recommendations of District Collector P. Seetharaman, would start functioning from September 1.

            On the occasion, the Minister handed over the sanction order to Thavaraj of the Oasis. The Minister further said that following the efforts made by the district administration 36 differently-abled persons were selected through a special employment camp held here to a private garment company at Avinashi. The Minister also noted that 15 differently abled persons, who underwent training in cellphone services, were given monetary assistance of Rs. 3, 500 each through the District Rural Development Authority and State Bank of India.

             During 2009-10, national identity cards were given to 29,347 differently abled persons and welfare board cards to 10,502 differently abled persons, the Minister added. Mr. Seetharaman said that since the number of the mentally retarded children happened to be the highest in Kattumannarkoil, there was a need to start a special school there.

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House keys given to the tsunami-hit

CUDDALORE: 

              Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam on Wednesday handed over the keys of permanent houses to 131 tsunami-affected coastal families at Rasapettai near here. The houses were built at a cost of Rs. 3.37 crore.

             The Minister said that the houses were constructed under the Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Programme. With this, as many as 1,580 permanent houses were built under the programme at a total cost of Rs 37.82 crore and handed over to the beneficiaries in the district. Mr. Panneerselvam also said that under the programme, construction of 3,627 more houses — 1,838 units to be built in urban areas by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board and 1,789 units by the District Rural Development Agency — was being taken up at a cost of Rs. 83.95 crore.

             Mr. Panneerselvam said that roads were constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.15 crore and 23 panchayat union offices at a cost of Rs. 78.57 lakh in the tsunami affected areas. For improving livelihood support, as many as 3,960 self-help groups were formed and a revolving fund of Rs. 10.71 crore and loan amounting to Rs. 3.87 crore were given away, the Minister said. Collector P. Seetharaman, and Cuddalore Municipal Chairman T. Thangarasu were present.

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