The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M Karunanidhi said that Rs 250 crore was disbursed towards the payment of unemployment allowance in the state. Till the last year, the government covered about 3.5 lakh people. Those who could claim the allowance included people who had remained jobless after registering with the employment exchange for five years. The scheme is in active operation since 2006. Mr Karunanidhi also lashed out on the comments made by the opposition leader Jayalalitha. She had complained that the state had failed to control mosquito spread in Chennai. Mr Karunanidhi clarified that it was up to the State Public Health Department to have greater attention towards the problem and that the opposition leader was raising such trivial matters just to show her presence.