Rapid infrastructural development and unusually huge funding for welfare measures to help the poor may not go hand in hand.
But Chennai Corporation, on Wednesday, remained an exception. In a period of strained finances owing to innovative welfare measures in addition to capital works, Chennai Corporation continued to be optimistic, projecting its welfare measures to visitors of the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM). Even as delegates and visitors of GIM focussed primarily on infrastructure and investment on Wednesday, the Corporation stall remained an exception, offering hope for citizens concerned about sustaining welfare measures in a period of hurried privatisation and globalisation.
Most of the visitors to the Chennai Corporation stall at the GIM venue in Nandambakkam praised the welfare measures, including Amma Canteens, in Chennai. A chunk of the observations made in the visitors’ book mentioned such innovative welfare measures. “Awesome project. Shows true leadership, administration and compassion,” wrote Vij Voora, a visitor, pointing to Amma canteens, a project to offer food at affordable cost.
Published - September 10, 2015 12:00 am IST
