more-in Delivering the Independence Day celebrations speech at Fort St. George here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that development and improvement of the individual should be used to measure the progress and development of the nation. “The success of freedom lies in ensuring that the basic needs of the individual such as food, education, shelter, sanitation, employment opportunities and security are met,” he said. The government will continue to focus on improving education, jobs and infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, he said. “To ensure that government school students also improve and upgrade their computer skills ?438 crore will be used to create ‘Computer Research labs’. Also, ‘Intellectual Skill- development class rooms’ (Arivuthiram Vaguparaigal) will be set up at a cost of ?60 crore and infrastructure will be improved in schools at a cost of ?391 crore in the current academic year,” said Mr. Palaniswami. Underlining the scale of investments that the government had attracted since AIADMK took power in 2011, he said, “So far, the State has received ?2, 19,000 crore investment. The government has decided to set up Technology Parks spread over 19,615 acres in southern districts such as Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudhukottai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts, which have fallen behind in terms of economic development.” He further announced that the pension for freedom fighters will be increased from ?12,000 to ?13,000. “The pension received by the family will be increased from ?6,000 presently to ?6,500,” he said. ‘Cooperate with police’ Later, he resented awards to meritorious police and other personnel here and recalled the role played by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel in ensuring the safety of workers during the recent fire accidents at Chennai Silks and a bakery in Kodungaiyur. In this context, he requested the public to extend their cooperation to the police. Mr. Palaniswami urged the personnel to continue to the serve the people 24/7 and offer protection. He presented the President of India medals and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s medals to Police, Vigilance and Anti-corruption, Fire and Rescue Services, Prison and Home Guards and Civil Defence personnel. The medals were presented to 854 personnel. Award for official C.K. Alagunambi, an official of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Chennai, is among the recipients of the prestigious Indian Police Medal this year for his meritorious service awarded to mark the occasion of the Independence Day. The medal would be handed over later this year.

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