Preparations for the presentation of the Budget in the Assembly and implementation of various people welfare schemes promised by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the election manifesto during Assembly polls 2016 were among the major issues discussed in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami at Fort St. George here on Thursday.
Finance Secretary K. Shanmugam made a presentation to the Cabinet about the preparations needed for the forthcoming Assembly session and the specific inputs Finance Department needed from each department.
Review meeting
It had been decided that the Minister concerned would sit for a review meeting with Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Mr. Shanmugam before the Assembly session commenced.
“The process of review meeting for every department has already commenced. Last year, D. Jayakumar presented the Budget as he was handling finance, and this year, since the portfolio is with Mr. Panneerselvam now, he would review the preparations this year,” sources said and added that the date for Assembly session was yet to be finalised.
The Chief Minister was keen on knowing the status of various schemes being implemented by various departments.
Schemes yet to be implemented
“There was a discussion on how many schemes promised by late former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa were implemented and how many are yet to be implemented. It emerged that about 20 schemes are yet to be implemented,” the sources said.
It may be recalled that Jayalalithaa had promised prohibition in phases and further ordered the closure of 500 Tasmac shops soon after she was re-elected to power in May 2016.
Mr. Palaniswami too had ordered for the closure of another 500 shops on his first day in office as CM in February 2017.
Souvenir planned
The government is also planning to release a souvenir.
“It was a well-earned one year if you notice. The Chief Minister held together everything and was able to run the government for one year despite the challenges. Why not a souvenir?” a Minister, who attended the meeting, said.
All members of the Cabinet, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, Chief Minister’s secretaries S. Vijayakumar and P. Senthil Kumar and Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister Jayashree Muralidharan were present.
