Taking all steps for CMB, says CM Palaniswami in Delhi

The Chief Minister made this recommendation during the meeting of the National Council to ideate on celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 

“The university at present has the status of Deemed University, and it may be upgraded as a Central University and a Centre of Eminence for Rural Development and Gandhian Philosophy may be established,” he said. 

“To encourage sustainable development, there is an urgent need to honour the individual or institution that promotes Gandhiji’s ideas on sustainable development. Therefore, a ‘Gandhi Green Earth Award’ may be instituted on the lines of Nobel Prize and awarded annually to eligible individuals or institutions globally,” Palaniswami suggested. 

Citing that manual scavenging was abhorred by Mahatma Gandhi, the CM suggested that the Centre may fund machineries to local bodies across the country.

Speaking to media representatives, Palaniswami said that he also mooted the idea of providing free dhotis and sarees to the poor on Gandhi Jayanthi day akin to Tamil Nadu’s Pongal gift scheme. 

When asked whether he attempted to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the vexed issue Cauvery, the CM sought to downplay it stating that the agenda for Wednesday was Mahatma Gandhi. 

“It would be improper for me to meet the PM in person while we have decided to meet him as a delegation,” he said. 

Delving into the efforts taken thus far by the state since the February 16 Supreme Court verdict, the CM said the state first consulted all the political parties as well as farmers’ associations from the delta. “The resolutions adopted unanimously during the meeting were sent to the PM’s office and his time was sought. The PMO later redirected us to meet the Union Water Resources Minister which the Opposition leader (MK) Stalin termed as inappropriate and was unnecessarily insisting on the PM’s appointment,” he said. “When Modi came to launch the Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme, I had asked him to form the CMB. We also presented our memorandum to him when he came for the DefExpo. We have been taking all efforts to ensure that CMB was formed,” he said.