Perambalur (Tamil Nadu), March 12 Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated the ruling DMK's election promise to double the monthly entitlement grant for women to Rs 2,000 if the party is re-elected.
Addressing a government function here to mark the birth centenary of social justice leader V Anaimuthu, Udhayanidhi noted that the increase in the Kalaignar Women's Entitlement Grant, previously announced by Chief Minister M K Stalin, would be a cornerstone of the party's agenda if it were to regain power.
"In our Dravidian Model 2.0 government, our Hon'ble Chief Minister has promised that the Women's Entitlement Grant will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He alleged that while certain quarters attempted to stall the scheme, citing upcoming Assembly elections, the government successfully thwarted these "conspiracies" to credit Rs 5,000 into the bank accounts of 1.32 crore women beneficiaries.
Highlighting the state's fiscal health, Udhayanidhi stated that Tamil Nadu currently leads developing states in India with a double-digit growth rate of 11.19 per cent.
He maintained that this growth supports the expansion of welfare measures, including the 'Vidiyal Payana Thittam' (Free bus travel) for women, which he said has facilitated 920 crore free trips over the last five years.
The deputy chief minister distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 359 crore to approximately 10,000 beneficiaries from Perambalur and Ariyalur districts during the event.
He cited several industrial milestones in the region, such as a Rs 400 crore footwear factory in Eraiyur and a Rs 150 crore milk powder factory in Padalur, asserting that these projects have solidified employment for thousands.
Honoring Anaimuthu, whom he described as the "Father of the Mandal Commission," Udhayanidhi said the state had nationalized the leader's works and celebrated the centenary as a state function.
"I have come here not just as Kalaignar's grandson, but it gives me great joy to participate in this event as Periyar's grandson, Perarignar Anna's grandson, and as a policy-grandson of the elder Anaimuthu," he said.
