Vijay, chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), on Saturday unveiled a series of welfare promises, including measures for women, if his party comes to power in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Speaking at an International Women’s Day event organized by TVK in Mamallapuram, Vijay said the monthly financial support would be given to women up to the age of 60, excluding government employees, once the party forms the government, according to PTI.
List of promises by TVK’s Vijay:
- A monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500, a sovereign of gold along with a silk saree as a wedding gift for young women.
2. Families would receive six free LPG cylinders every year under the ‘Annapurani Super Six Scheme’.
3. To prevent school dropouts, Vijay also announced that mothers or guardians would receive an annual financial assistance of ₹15,000 under the ‘Kamarajar Kalvi Uruthi Thittam’.
4. The ‘Vetri Payanam (Victory Journey) Scheme’ would allow women to travel free of cost on all government buses.
5. A Rani Velu Nachiyar Force, named after Rani Velu Nachiyar, would be established to strengthen women’s safety. According to him, women officers from this force would operate in plain clothes and be equipped with body cameras, with around 500 teams deployed across the state to handle security duties.
6. Anjalai Ammal Fast-Track Courts for Women, named after freedom fighter Anjalai Ammal, would be set up to ensure quicker investigation and delivery of justice in cases of crimes against women.
7. Smart panic buttons would be introduced in public transport for women’s safety. These devices would be installed in all public transport vehicles, including private share autos, and would enable authorities to provide assistance and protection within five minutes of an alert.
8. Zero dark spots to be created by ensuring CCTV cameras and proper lighting in all vulnerable areas. Modern command centers to monitor these systems to ensure women’s safety.
9. “Free sanitary pads will be distributed through public distribution points such as ration shops, schools, and colleges”
10. Singa Pengal (Empowered Women) Development Scheme-Women-run Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to receive interest-free funding up to ₹5 lakh to enhance their production capacity. SHGs that transform into registered MSMEs will also get ₹5 lakh annually as a 100% grant.
11 Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme, to celebrate the child’s birth in the state, the Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme will be introduced. “Every newborn child will receive a gold ring as a blessing from the government,” he said.
12. “A Baby Welcome Kit will also be provided containing: Nutritional supplements, Baby clothes, Baby soaps, Baby oil, Baby powder, Mosquito nets, Toys and Napkins and diapers.”
The 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go to polls in the first half of 2026. In the upcoming election, the ruling alliance led by MK Stalin under the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) will seek to retain power against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is widely expected to make the contest a three-cornered one.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam secured 133 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 18 seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi won five, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi secured four, while other parties won eight seats. The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which included Congress and other partners, collectively won 159 seats.
On the other hand, the NDA secured 75 seats, with the AIADMK emerging as the largest party within the alliance after winning 66 seats.
(With inputs from agencies)
