The first cabinet meeting of the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was held at the Secretariat on Friday, where ways and means of implementing projects across departments were discussed.
The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, discussed a range of issues. Energy Resources and Law Minister Nirmal Kumar said that the Prime Minister presented 436 new projects in various departments.
Some of the key areas discussed include youth empowerment, women’s welfare, development of fishermen community and making Tamil Nadu drug-free, Kumar said.
“The first Cabinet meeting was held today under the leadership of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. In this meeting, the Prime Minister presented around 436 projects across departments,” Kumar told reporters. He said the Prime Minister clearly set specific objectives for each department and allocated a total of 436 projects across the government.
“(From now on) the relevant ministers will sit with their ministry officials, hold consultations and develop a detailed work plan. Once these plans are ready, they will determine what needs to be implemented and what needs to be done to quickly implement the projects,” he explained.
Responding to a query about anti-drug measures, Kumar said 717 state-run liquor shops have already been closed. “Our ultimate goal is to make Tamil Nadu drug-free. Everyone is aware of the rampant drug trade that has been there in the last five years ranging from marijuana to methamphetamine,” he said. He added that the Prime Minister issued strict orders to the police department to completely eliminate this threat.
Stressing that shops selling gutkha have been closed, the minister said that in Madurai alone, more than two dozen shops were closed in one week after they were identified as selling the banned product. “In addition, the Goondas Act is effectively enforced against individuals involved in the sale of synthetic drugs,” he added.
