Chennai, March 7 TVK chief Vijay announced a series of promises for women on Saturday, including a monthly financial aid of Rs 2,500, a sovereign gold with a silk saree as a wedding gift for young women, and six LPG cylinders free for all families, if his party was voted to power in the upcoming state Assembly election.
The monthly assistance would be provided to all women except government employees, up to the age of 60, when his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam comes to power, Vijay said at the International Women's Day event held under the aegis of TVK at Mamallapuram near here.
The six LPG cylinders would be provided annually under the 'Annapurani super six scheme'.
In order to ensure zero dropout in schools, each mother or guardian would be provided an annual financial assistance of Rs 15,000 under the 'Kamarajar Kalvi Uruthi Thittam'.
Ensuring safety for women in public transport, Vijay, in his 20-minute speech, said smart panic buttons would be provided in buses.
To serve girl students, he said free sanitary pads would be provided through ration shops, schools and in colleges.
Vijay also announced interest-free allocation of up to Rs 5 lakh for women Self-Help Groups.
The actor-politician assured that every child born in Tamil Nadu would receive a gold ring and a baby welcome kit, comprising baby powder, baby oil, and diapers, as the state government's 'Ashirwad' (blessing).
He announced free bus travel in all state government-run buses for women, zero tolerance for crimes against women, dedication of 'Rani Velu Nachiyar' unit in police to ensure safety for women, and special fast-track courts for expeditious disposal of cases of crimes against women.
Vijay also hit out at the ruling DMK, alleging that nearly 30 per cent of Tamil Nadu's Rs 4.39 lakh crore budget goes to Chief Minister M K Stalin and his Cabinet colleagues, dubbing it the "Stalin sir tax."
These poll assurances can be implemented by a "graft-free super-good regime", he added.
Earlier, he honoured football coach Thamimunissa Jabbar, biker Maya, Ashwetha, a first-generation graduate and Harvard Kennedy School alumna from Tamil Nadu, organic farmer Archana Stalin, Grace Banu, software engineer and Dalit transgender activist, ISRO scientist Kalpana, and CEO Ilavarasi, at the event.
He greeted the women invited to the stage. Later, he also posed for a group picture with the awardees.
Vijay, without referring to his wife Sankgeetha filing a divorce petition and related criticism against him tackled by his fans, appealed his party workers to not get hurt and assured them he would deal the issue.
"Let us focus only on people centric issues," he told them.