- Annadurai’s reign will be remembered as long as the state is known as Tamil Nadu: Stalin
- The scheme is made possible only because of the Jan Dhan account scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan
- The opposition AIADMK and the BJP have criticise the DMK government for fixing eligibility criteria for women who can receive the monthly cash dole
NE NEWS SERVICE
KANCHEEPURAM, SEPT 15
Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday launched the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (Kalaignar women rightful money scheme) that will provide Rs 1,000 as monthly cash dole throughout the year for 1.065 crore woman heads of families across the state.
The scheme is seen as a major push by Stalin to reinstate his brand of politics and social justice commitment. The cash dole was one of the seven important promises made by the DMK in its 2021 election manifesto.
The scheme, which is part of Satlin’s poll manifesto, is also being launched on September 15 in view of the birth anniversary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) founder CN Annadurai.
மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர் திரு.@mkstalin அவர்கள், பேரறிஞர் அண்ணா அவர்களின் பிறந்தநாளான இன்று (15.9.2023) காஞ்சிபுரம், பச்சையப்பன் ஆடவர் கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில், மகளிருக்கு மாதந்தோறும் ரூ.1000/- வழங்கிடும் கலைஞர் மகளிர் உரிமைத் திட்டத்தை தொடங்கி வைத்து ஆற்றிய உரை. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/SrwghMOaVZ
— TN DIPR (@TNDIPRNEWS) September 15, 2023
(4/4) pic.twitter.com/IWnHsusfkH
— TN DIPR (@TNDIPRNEWS) September 15, 2023
Government employees, property owners, or taxpayers. Applicants must own a ration card and a bank account. The scheme is expected to cost the state government around Rs 7,000 crore per year.
The temple town near Chennai was chosen for the launch of the scheme as it is the birthplace of DMK founder and late chief minister CN Annadurai.
After launching the event, Stalin said, “Annadurai’s reign will be remembered as long as the state is known as Tamil Nadu. It was Annadurai who was the reason behind renaming the state of Madras as Tamil Nadu. Likewise, as long as women in Tamil Nadu received their rightful money, it would only mean that Stalin was administrating the state. As many as 1.06 crore women will receive Rs 1,000 every month on 15th which is a recognition of their hard work towards uplifting their families.”
“It is not an assistance. It is your rightful money. I was able to implement the scheme only because you voted for the DMK alliance,” Stalin told the women who gathered at the launch event in Kanchipuram.
In his speech, the Chief Minister spoke about “sacrifices” made by women to ensure that their family members prosper. “I would like to thank my mother who is an embodiment of affection, my wife, who stood behind me, and my daughter who loves me unconditionally,” Stalin added.
Stalin handed over ATM cards to 13 beneficiaries as a token of launching the scheme while the ministers launched the scheme in their respective districts and constituencies. The cash dole was credited to the accounts of 1.065 crore women on Thursday and Friday. A majority of them received the money on Thursday itself.
Since the DMK came to power in 2021, this is the third signature scheme launched by Stalin exclusively for women in Tamil Nadu. The free bus travel for women, and the Rs 1,000 per month for female students from 6th to 12th standard in government schools are the two schemes that were launched by Stalin earlier.
On the other hand, the opposition AIADMK and the BJP have criticised the DMK government for fixing eligibility criteria for women who can receive the monthly cash dole. “The DMK in their manifesto said that it is for all women. But they fixed eligibility criteria. The DMK has not kept up its promise,” AIADMK spokesperson and former minister D Jayakumar told the media.
— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@DrTamilisai4BJP) September 15, 2023
Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the scheme was made possible only because of the Jan Dhan account scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
