Focussing on a number of issues, including basic income for the poor, unemployed degree holders and the impact of climate change on Tamil Nadu’s urban areas, Pattali Makkal Katchi presented its 17th “shadow budget” at its party headquarters in Chennai on Wednesday.

It was prepared ahead of the State Budget scheduled to be presented by Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam in the Assembly on Friday.

The PMK ‘budget’ envisaged creation of the Tamil Nadu Accountability Commission, which will have the powers to even question the Chief Minister, Ministers and directors of public sector undertakings in case of corruption. The shadow budget states that on Administrative Reforms Commission would be set up to tackle corruption and delay in decision making, essentially reimagining administration in Tamil Nadu.

IDr. Ramadoss said while monthly help would vary for the unemployed according to their education qualification, the PMK government-in-future would create a separate committee to look into employment generation in the State.

Funds for infrastructure

The report envisaged spending ₹10 lakh crore to rebuild the State’s infrastructure in six years. While his government would spend ₹3 lakh crore, the rest of the money would be generated from the private sector.

Dr. Ramadoss said, “A committee will be created that includes economists and HRD experts to prepare a report on how to improve jobs in three months, based on which steps will be taken by the government to increase jobs.”

The highlights of the shadow budget include a monthly sum of ₹5,000 for graduates who have been unemployed for close to 5 years. The budget also provides ₹2,500 for families below the poverty line.

While Tamil Nadu has seen a number of murders involving inter-caste couples, the shadow budget picks out ‘murders due to unrequited’ love as a serious concern in Tamil Nadu and promises to stop harassment of women in public places, he said.

“More than 10 people have been killed because of unrequited love. About ₹10 lakh will be given to the affected families. A department headed by an IPS officer will be created to stop sexual harassment of working women and school and college-going girls in public places,” the report said.