This refers to “Amma’s agenda” (BS Weekend, December 17). Jayalalithaa’s previous regime ended with a surplus; Karunanidhi ends in deficits. So the DMK’s profligacy has to be reversed for the government to sustain itself. Increases in bus fares are a function of the fuel price rise — a price hike is imminent for electricity for the same reason. The AIADMK government cannot be faulted for the latter two.
The Rs 1,000-crore secretariat complex built on the Omanthoorar estate is not only incomplete, its plan does not reflect a sense of how federal officials function today. It is lavish, but, pray, what is the point of being lavish? The initial outlay for the project was Rs 450 crore. The Rs 550-crore overrun is not only a colossal waste but also prompted the AIADMK to think of a better way of utilising the building.
On education, text books were doctored. Kids were made to recite poems in praise of Karunanidhi. Many poems written by his daughter, Kanimozhi, were included. Jayalalithaa wanted – rightly – to depoliticise the contents. There was also the issue of quality — a fifth-grade student has to be taught addition and subtraction! The DMK’s justification: if students study at least this curriculum, it would be a big achievement because of high dropouts! In that case, why not hand over degree certificates to students who come to the schools — that too for the midday meal?
The DMK regime’s free colour television scheme only increased debt, the burden of which is borne by the public. Then there was the Rs 7,000-crore loan waiver for farmers that penalised EMI payers while rewarding defaulters. There have been summits and cultural events costing crores.
So an objective way of analysing Jayalalithaa’s approach would be to understand that she wants to use public funds in a more effective manner. Forget DMK or AIADMK and ideologies and tell us: who is prudent?
Raghu Seshadri, Chennai
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