Identity cards issued to 10 lakh agricultural workers

Tiruchi:I. Periasami, left, Revenue and Law Minister, distributing assistance to a beneficiary in Tiruchi on Monday. (From left to right) Transport Minister K.N. Nehru and Collector Ashish Vachhani are also seen.The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labourers’ Welfare Board has issued identity cards to as many as 10 lakh farm workers across the State, the Revenue Minister, I. Periasami, said.

Speaking at a meeting to review the Board’s performance in the region comprising Tiruchi, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts here on Monday, Mr. Periasami said that the board extended several welfare assistances to its members. In Tiruchi district, 2,000 workers were sanctioned Old Age Pension.He urged officials to identify all eligible farm workers and enrol them as members for the issue of identity cards.He also asked them to sanction assistance to the needy without any delay.On suggestions made by office-bearers of the board for improving its performance, the Minister said that he would apprise the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, of the same.

The Transport Minister, K. N. Nehru, called upon officials to extend their cooperation for the success of the scheme.The Collectors of Tiruchi and Perambalur, Ashish Vachhani and Anil Meshram respectively, were among those who participated.Earlier, Mr. Periasami gave away assistance to the tune of about Rs.15.85 lakh to 87 members of the region.The Minister also gave away house-site pattas to 23 beneficiaries residing on the ‘porambokke’ land for more than a decade.