Survey gives thumbs up to AIADMK government

CHENNAI: The AIADMK government has met with a favourable reception among the people for its performance during the honeymoon period, an opinion poll has found. While some of the government’s measures have been met with overwhelming support, the people have also expressed concern that the government would be able to address major issues only partially.The opinion poll, conducted by the People Studies group of the School of Media Studies, Loyola College, showed that a considerable number of people expressed concern over the government’s intention to undo most of the moves of the previous regime. The poll was conducted among 3,123 people across all age groups, from all districts. Only 54.5 per cent of those surveyed believed the government would be able to keep its promise of fulfilling all poll promises in 18 months. That too, only if Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa committed herself to it. Even all the schemes and measures of the government may not be enough to combat the major problems that face the State, 40.8 per cent of those surveyed opined. Power cuts, price rise, corruption, lack of employment opportunities and law & order were the burning issues, in order of importance, according to the results of the survey. Schemes such as the pension for senior citizens, free laptops, gold for weddings of girls, cable TV nationalisation, free rice scheme and the shifting of the Secretariat were among the government measures that found overwhelming support among those interviewed. The postponement of the Universal School Education (Samacheer Kalvi) scheme, cancellation of the free TV scheme and increase in sales hours of TASMAC were issues on which the people strongly opposed the government.  The survey also indicated that the view of the people on the Lankan Tamil issue had changed little over time. A whopping 64.9 per cent said the only permanent solution to the Lankan civil conflict was the creation of a separate Tamil Eelam. Further, 69.8 per cent demanded that the Centre designate Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa a war criminal, through a resolution of Parliament.