The Tamil Nadu government on Friday launched the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (Kalaignar women rightful money scheme) that will provide Rs 1,000 as monthly cash throughout the year for 1.065 crore women heads of families across the state. The cash dole was one of the seven important promises made by the DMK in its 2021 election manifesto.
Chief Minister MK Stalin launched the scheme in Kanchipuram. 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. September 15 is CN Annadurai's birth anniversary. In his speech after launching the event, Stalin said, “Annadurai’s reign will be remembered as long as the state is known as Tamil Nadu. Annadurai 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 on 15th of every month, 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. “I got the money yesterday itself. Stalin has done what he promised. This helps meet my gas cylinder expense every month,” says S Revathi who lives at the Nallan Kuppam in Ashok Nagar.
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 the Stalin government launched earlier.
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.
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.