R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 13
In a politically charged announcement ahead of the Assembly elections, M. K. Stalin on Friday said his government has directly deposited ₹5,000 each into the bank accounts of 1.31 crore women beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Scheme, asserting the move was to safeguard recipients from attempts to stall the programme.
தமிழ்நாட்டு மகளிருக்கு இந்த ஸ்டாலின் தந்த உறுதிமொழிதான் உரிமைத்தொகை. யார் தடை ஏற்படுத்தினாலும் அதிலிருந்து பின்வாங்க மாட்டேன்.
தேர்தலைக் காரணம் காட்டி, மூன்று மாதங்களுக்கு உரிமைத்தொகையை முடக்கப் பார்க்கிறார்கள். முந்திக்கொண்டது நமது #DravidianModel அரசு!
பிப்ரவரி, மார்ச்,… pic.twitter.com/n7VrMqcrb7
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) February 13, 2026
“You would have received ₹5,000 this morning. I have decided to provide the sum in view of an attempt (by vested interests) to freeze the scheme citing upcoming elections,” Stalin said in a video message posted on ‘X’.
- CM Frontloads Three-Month Aid Under Kalaignar Scheme, Promises ₹2,000 Monthly If DMK Returns
- Move Months Before Assembly Polls Triggers Sharp Reactions from AIADMK, TVK, BJP, PMK & Allies
- Stalin Cites Bid to ‘Freeze Scheme’, Says Summer Grant to Shield Families from Hardship
- Congress Welcomes Relief; Rivals Term It ‘Election-Time Patchwork’
The Chief Minister explained that the amount covers three months — February, March and April — and includes an additional ₹2,000 to help families manage summer expenses. He further announced that the monthly entitlement of ₹1,000 would be doubled if the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) returns to power.
“Further, the monthly entitlement of ₹1,000 will be increased to ₹2,000 once the DMK returns to power this year,” Stalin said.
Appealing directly to beneficiaries, he added, “I appeal to the sisters to judiciously utilise the amount for expenses towards the education needs of your children, buying medicine, or other essentials that are required.”
‘Recognising Women’s Contribution’
Launched in September 2023 as the ₹1,000 Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme, the initiative initially covered 1.13 crore women and has since expanded to 1.31 crore women heads of family ration cardholders.
Describing the scheme as “their entitlement sum given to recognise the contribution of women to society,” Stalin said, “This amount has enabled women to meet many essential expenses such as daily household expenses, medical expenses incurred in the family, besides education expenses for children.”
He claimed that “a group in Delhi and their associates in Tamil Nadu are plotting to stop the women’s entitlement for the next three months, citing the upcoming Assembly elections,” and alleged possible legal moves to stall the scheme.
“As someone in your family, I know very well how much difficulty you will face if this scheme, which recognised the labour of 1.31 crore women, is stopped for three months… I can feel how much pain you will experience if this amount is stopped during summer when it is difficult to go to work in the scorching heat,” Stalin said.
Recalling that his government took charge in 2021 amid the pandemic and what he termed a “financial crisis” left by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime, Stalin said,
“We provided a relief amount of ₹4,000 to protect your livelihood. After overcoming the severe financial crisis left by the previous AIADMK government, we implemented many schemes.”
Opposition Slams ‘Fear of Defeat’
Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami reacted sharply, saying, “The announcement reflected the Chief Minister’s fear of defeat at the hustings.”
தேர்தல் தோல்வி பயம், பொம்மை முதல்வரை என்னவெல்லாம் செய்ய வைக்கிறது என்று பார்த்தீர்களா?
28 மாதங்களாக "1000 ரூபாய்" கொடுக்காமல் இழுத்து அடித்த ஸ்டாலின் அரசு, தற்போது மூன்று மாதத் தொகையோடு சேர்த்து "கோடைக்கால சிறப்புத் தொகை" கொடுக்கிறாராம்.
2024, 2025 ஆண்டுகளில் நமக்கு…
— Edappadi K Palaniswami-SayYEStoWomenSafety&AIADMK (@EPSTamilNadu) February 13, 2026
In a post on ‘X’, Palaniswami said, “The Stalin-led government, which did not implement this scheme for 28 months after coming to power, is now giving a summer special grant along with the three-month instalment sum.”
He added that women would not trust this “patchwork of crediting election-time money,” and claimed Stalin raised the promised monthly assistance only after AIADMK pledged ₹2,000 monthly aid to women heads of family ration cardholders if voted to power.
Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), questioned the timing of the disbursal, asking whether “summer came only this year” for the Chief Minister to announce a special ₹2,000 grant. He also sought clarification on why the aid was credited two days ahead of the scheduled 15th of every month.
கழக நிர்வாகிகள் சந்திப்பு மற்றும் தேர்தல் பரப்புரை நிகழ்ச்சி நேரலை…https://t.co/RyQjOBsOzw
— TVK Party HQ (@TVKPartyHQ) February 13, 2026
Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan strongly condemned the move, stating, “The Chief Minister made the announcement due to fear of defeat in the election.”
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On CM MK Stalin announcing a major outreach for women and crediting Rs 5,000 this morning to all 1.31 crore beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan says, "First of all, I condemn Stalin for blaming the… pic.twitter.com/iLOcc7sanB
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2026
Leaders of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and other opposition voices echoed similar concerns, alleging that the government was leveraging welfare transfers for electoral mileage.
Meanwhile, DMK ally Indian National Congress welcomed the decision. Tamil Nadu Congress chief K. Selvaperunthagai said on ‘X’, “We see this as a tribute to the hard work and self-confidence of women,” adding that the assistance would provide real relief to poor and middle-class families grappling with inflation.
அறிக்கை
2021 சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் தி.மு.க. கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதிகளில் 90 சதவிகிதம் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. 17 லட்சத்து 53 ஆயிரம் மாணவ- மாணவியர் பயனடைகிற காலை உணவுத் திட்டம் போன்ற அறிவிக்கப்படாத வாக்குறுதிகளும் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. தமிழக அரசின் முத்திரை… pic.twitter.com/a3ThzSpp2Q
— Selvaperunthagai K (@SPK_TNCC) February 13, 2026
Welfare vs. Electoral Strategy?
With Assembly elections approaching, the frontloaded transfer has intensified political debate over welfare versus electoral strategy. While the ruling DMK frames the move as a protective step to ensure continuity of benefits, opposition parties describe it as a sign of electoral anxiety.
For 1.31 crore women beneficiaries across Tamil Nadu, however, the immediate impact is tangible — ₹5,000 credited directly into their accounts, with the promise of higher monthly support if the DMK retains power.
