Tamil Nadu to give Rs 10 lakh each to villages eradicating untouchability

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government today hiked the cash incentive to Rs 10 lakh to each of the 31 villages where efforts would be made to eradicate untouchability.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa decided to increase the incentive to Rs 10 lakh from the the present Rs two lakh and earmarked a sum of Rs 3.10 crore for the purpose, an official statement said.

As parts of efforts to eradicate untouchability, the government was so far selecting 31 villages, one each from a district except Chennai, and giving Rs two lakh cash incentive to each.

The villages could utilise the amount for various developmental activities like drinking water, roads, schools and lighting purposes, it said.

For receiving the cash incentive, a village has to ensure that Adi Dravidars and tribals get free access to temples, wells, shops and hotels, and there is no restrictions on private wells, getting houses on rent and all sections of people participating in festivities.