Chennai, March 29 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday released his party's manifesto for the April 23 Assembly elections, and announced providing the "Illatharasi" coupon scheme worth Rs 8,000 for women to buy/replace household electronic goods.
He promised to implement a number of welfare measures in different sectors, including education, industry, and agriculture, if the DMK were to return to power, and described his party's set of election promises as a "superstar."
He said the coupon for women could be used to buy household appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, blenders, microwave ovens, or induction stoves, or to replace them.
"This new Illatharasi scheme will be implemented. Under this scheme, women from families that do not fall under the income tax bracket will be provided a one-time coupon worth Rs 8,000 to purchase these electronic goods from stores in their areas of residence," Stalin said.
"Illatharasi" in Tamil literally translates to "the queen of the house," and refers to a woman who is the head of the family.
Announcing a series of welfare measures targeting women, female students, farmers, and fishermen, he said, "I have mentioned a few as a highlight."
"Usually in Tamil Nadu elections, the DMK election manifesto is the hero, but now the Dravidian Model 2.0's election manifesto is the superstar," said Stalin, who is confident of winning over 200 seats out of 234 in the April 23 election.
Other promises made by the ruling party included expanding the coverage of the CM Health Insurance scheme to Rs 10 lakh by increasing the annual income ceiling, raising pensions for elderly, widows, and unmarried women over 50 to Rs 2,000 per month, doubling the monthly grant under the Kalaignar Magalir Urumai Thogai (monthly assistance) to Rs 2,000, and adding new eligible women to this scheme.
Other announcements included expanding the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme up to Class 8, and providing free modern electric pumps to more than 20 lakh farmers who receive free electricity.
The DMK chief assured to increase the procurement price of paddy to Rs 3,500 per quintal and the procurement price of sugarcane to Rs 4,500 per tonne.
Approximately 10 lakh new concrete houses will be built under the Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam housing scheme and various other housing schemes towards a hut-free Tamil Nadu by 2030.
Skill training will be provided to five lakh youths who have completed higher education, and they will also receive Rs 1,500 per month upon enrolment and completion of a 6-month training program under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, he said.
The state will aim to attract foreign investment of Rs 18 lakh crore to create 50 lakh jobs in five years. The monthly higher education grant of Rs 1,000 to students under the Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan schemes will be increased to Rs 1,500. About 35 lakh free laptops will be provided to all college students.
In addition to establishing four future-ready global cities around Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli, about 50 Semmozhi Poonga's will be constructed across Tamil Nadu, he said.
In his address, Stalin expressed confidence that the DMK is "going to form government for the seventh time."
"This confidence is not just of the party workers but of all the people of Tamil Nadu, because no state government has achieved so much. So many record schemes have been implemented. We have achieved double-digit growth," he said.
The DMK started its tenure in 2021 with a 10-year vision plan.
Today, 1.31 crore women are receiving Rs 1,000 monthly assistance, he said. "The BJP tried to stop this, citing election concerns, but we realized their conspiracy and provided advance information in February," the DMK chief added.
The manifesto was prepared by a team headed by party deputy general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Kaniozhi, and the team members included two state ministers. Stalin felicitated them on the occasion.