The Hindu 21.04.2010
Identity cards distributed to gypsy families in Nellai
Staff Reporter
| Accord the highest priority to education, says Collector |
BENEFICIAL:Collector M.Jayaraman handing over identity card to a gypsy at Pettai near Tirunelveli on Tuesday.
TIRUNELVELI: Collector M. Jayaraman distributed identity cards to 20 ‘narikoravas' (gypsies) and free colour televisions to five gypsy families at Pettai near here on Tuesday.
Addressing the function, organised by Department of Backward Class and Minorities Welfare, Mr. Jayaraman said the gypsies, for whom the State Government was providing a range of welfare schemes such as educational assistance, old age assistance, free house site pattas, assistance to perform last rites etc., should admit their children to the schools to become qualified for getting employment in the government departments.
As the government was giving assistance to the children of gypsies for even postgraduate studies, they should accord the highest priority to education while strictly avoiding alcohol, which would completely ruin the individuals and their families, he noted.
When the gypsies appealed to him to distribute free house site pattas, ration cards and protected drinking water to their colony, Mr. Jayaraman instructed the officials to immediately look into these demands and start the work on these appeals.
“Moreover, the officials should immediately complete the photographing of the gypsies for issuing the smartcards under the Kalaignar Insurance Scheme,” he ordered.
When he visited Lepers' Colony, being run by Social Change and Development (SCAD), a Palayamkottai-based NGO, Mr. Jayaraman asked the officials to immediately complete the formalities for giving old age pension to the lepers, toilet facilities and photographing themfor Kalaignar Insurance Scheme.
Corporation councillor Abdul Wahab, general manager of SCAD Thambidurai, and Assistant Executive Engineer of Tirunelveli Corporation Shanthi accompanied the Collector.