Don’t ignore criticism over schemes on social media, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin tells officials

Ministers including KN Nehru (Municipal Administration), MRK Panneerselvam (Agriculture), Udhayanidhi Stalin (Youth Welfare and Sports), and government secretaries, took part. (CMO Tamil Nadu/Twitter)

Criticism of government schemes on social media, television, and newspapers should not be ignored and if the grievances are true; they should be addressed, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin advised senior officials on Thursday, 16 February.

Chairing a review meeting at Salem of district collectors of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri under the “Kala Ayvil Mudhalamaichar Thittam” — an on-the-spot assessment plan — Stalin said that top priority should be accorded to welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised sections of people.

சேலம் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் “கள ஆய்வில் முதலமைச்சர்” திட்டத்தின் கீழ், சேலம், கிருஷ்ணகிரி, தருமபுரி, நாமக்கல் மாவட்ட ஆட்சித்தலைவர்கள் மற்றும் அரசு உயர் அலுவலர்களுடன் மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் தலைமையில் ஆய்வுக் கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. pic.twitter.com/Hwv9JxRpxY

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) February 16, 2023

‘Address genuine grievances’

The chief minister advised them to monitor work related to providing housing, entrepreneurial schemes, educational assistance, and school and college hostel amenities for them.

Pointing to criticism over government schemes on social media, television, and newspapers, Stalin said that these should not be ignored and if the grievances are found to be genuine, they should be addressed.

“Do not stop with that. Respond to the media that the issue has been addressed,” he added and underlined that such an approach is important.

மனுக்கள் வெறும் காகிதங்கள் அல்ல; ஒருவரின் வாழ்வு, எதிர்காலம்! அதனை நெஞ்சில் நிறுத்தி மக்களின் குறைகளைத் தீர்ப்பதை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரும் அவரின்கீழ் உள்ள அதிகாரிகளும் உறுதிசெய்ய இன்றைய #களஆய்வில்_முதலமைச்சர் கூட்டத்தில் வலியுறுத்தினேன்.

தொய்வின்றி மக்களின் தேவைகளை நிறைவேற்றுவோம்! pic.twitter.com/1EeV9TcoMm

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 16, 2023

Big schemes coming up

The government is implementing big-ticket schemes for people. However, delay in delivering basic state services, like “patta” name change, would not gain the government a good name among the people, he noted.

“Hence, work with attention on such services. Monitor and inspect the work of subordinate officials. See if follow-on action is being taken,” he said.

The chief minister highlighted the need to ensure basic amenities in rural and urban areas. He advised officials to look into the scope of introducing an initiative to designate personnel to function as receptionists in departments (like the Revenue Department) that come in direct contact with the people.

Such an initiative is already being implemented in police stations to guide the public.

மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்கள் #களஆய்வில்_முதலமைச்சர் ஆய்வுக் கூட்டத்தில் ஆற்றிய உரை.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/btbcswPTpS

— DMK (@arivalayam) February 16, 2023

In attendance

Ministers including KN Nehru (Municipal Administration), MRK Panneerselvam (Agriculture), Udhayanidhi Stalin (Youth Welfare and Sports), and government secretaries, took part.

District collectors S Karmegam (Salem), Shreya P Singh (Namakkal), Deepak Jacob (Krishnagiri), and K Santhi (Dharmapuri) participated.

Stalin had launched the “Kala Ayvil Mudhalamaichar Thittam” — a new plan for on-the-spot assessment — on 1 February and he toured the northern Vellore region on the inaugural day and the next day as well.

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The initiative is aimed at reviewing the implementation of government schemes and benefits reaching the people.

Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai were among the districts inspected by Stalin in the northern region.

On 15 February, he arrived in Salem for assessment as part of the government’s new initiative. Thursday is the second and concluding day of inspections and reviews.

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