Puducherry, August 26: In a bonanza for mediapersons in the union territory, Puducherry Chief Minister V Vaithilingam today announced in the Assembly a health insurance scheme and financial assistance for purchase of laptops by reporters.
Replying to views expressed by members during the four-day debate on demands for grants of various departments, including information and publicity, he said all presspersons and their dependents would be covered under a government Health Insurance scheme to the extent of Rs three lakh.
The government would also provide an assistance of Rs 10,000 to reporters for purchase of laptops, he said.
Acceding to pleas from members, Vaithilingam also announced a partial roll back in the Value Added Tax hike on cigarettes, limiting it to 15 per cent against 20 per cent proposed in the budget.
In the budget, presented by him on August 5, the VAT on cigarette was hiked to 20 per cent from present 12.5 per cent.
However, members cutting across party lines had pleaded for its reconsideration saying lower VAT in neighbouring Tamil Nadu would result in loss to traders of Puducherry.
Vaithilingam almost doubled the monthly pension to former legislators from Rs 5,500 to Rs 10,000.
The Chief Minister also said he had held talks with the top officials of GAIL India Limited to procure natural gas for setting up a 250 mw gas-based power plant in Karaikal.
He also announced exemption of stationery items used by students from VAT.
—Agencies