Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Tamil Nadu is being benefited by several Central schemes and more than ₹24,000 crore worth of projects were being implemented.

After launching the `Amma’ two wheeler scheme of the state government on the birth Anniversary of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa here in Chennai, Modi said ₹24,000 crore investments in the state included solar projects, crude pipeline, national highway and port facilities expansion.

For rural housing projects, Tamil Nadu has been given about ₹ 700 crore in 2016-17 and about ₹ 200 crore in 2017-18. For urban housing, the State has been given over ₹ 6,000 crore, he stated.

Devolution of funds

He said that under NDA-government, devolution of funds from the Centre to Tamil Nadu was significantly higher at ₹1,80,000 crore under 14th Finance Commission. Under 13th Finance Commission, the state received only ₹81,000 crore from the Congress-led Centre.

Modi also highlighted various schemes of the Centre and women empowerment through such programmes and beneficiaries in the state.

Women empowerment

“When we empower women in the family, we empower the entire household.. when we help with women’s education we ensure the entire family is educated,” he said.

On women’s welfare, Modi said that when one facilitates their good health, it keeps the entire family healthy and “when we secure her future, we secure the future of the entire home.”

He pointed out that he was happy to launch one of the pet schemes of late Chief Minister of J Jayalalithaa. The `Amma’ two wheeler scheme will go a long way in empowering women in the state, he added.

The state government’s two wheeler scheme extends 50 per cent subsidy or ₹25,000, whichever is lower, for the purchase of an automatic scooter or a moped of candidate’s choice. About one lakh women will be extended this subsidy.

CM’s plea

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami made an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take speedy action to form the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Tree sapling drive

Earlier, the Prime Minister also launched 70-lakh tree sapling planting drive across the state to commemorate the 70th birth anniversary celebrations of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

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