Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami reiterated that his AIADMK Government was following the footsteps of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in implementing various welfare measures and would overcome all hurdles in serving the people.

In his address after unfurling the national flag from the ramparts of Fort St George State Secretariat for the first time in his political career, Palaniswami said his government gave preference to the education sector. The government had allocated Rs 26,932 crore for school education during 2017-18.

“This government will be spending Rs 438 crore for setting up computer labs in government schools across the State on par with the private institutions,” he added.

He gave out a list of welfare schemes to be implemented and said the health sector was also being given priority and over 20.19 lakh people had got benefits through the State health insurance scheme.

On the farmers’ front, the government has awarded Rs 2,247 crore towards compensation to farmers who suffered from drought conditions in the State.

The Government had so far succeeded in attracting Rs 26,019 crore as foreign direct investment and there was a proposal to set up industrial parks in several three-tire districts, including Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudukottai, Dindigul, Thenni, Virudhunagar, Tuticoirn and Tirunelveli across 19,615 acres.

Saluting those who sacrificed their lives and property for the country’s freedom. Palaniswami said even a person in the lowest strata of the society in the State got food, education, healthcare, employment, security and industrial development through various schemes.