Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay announced that the Parandur airport project will be dropped. He also announced three free cooking gas cylinders every year for women heads of households and an expansion of the fare-free bus travel scheme for women.
Under the first phase of the Annapoorani Super Six scheme, three cooking gas cylinders will be provided every year. The amount towards the cost of the cylinders will be directly credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries. A total of 1,30,16,104 families will benefit from the scheme.
The scheme will cover economically weaker sections, small and marginal farmers, families of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable families. Preparatory work has already begun and the scheme will be brought into operation from the Pongal festival. The government will allocate approximately Rs 4,000 crore every year for the scheme.
Vijay also announced the Vetri Payanam scheme, an expansion of fare-free travel for women on state-run buses. Women will be able to travel free on Express, LSS and Deluxe government buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas. For travel between districts, women will be able to avail free travel on ordinary-fare buses in mofussil and hilly areas.
The government will implement the scheme from October 2, the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. There will be no income ceiling or restriction on the number of trips for women to avail the benefit. Transgender persons will also be eligible for fare-free travel under the scheme.
Vijay also said several schemes for the protection and empowerment of women, including the Singappen Sirappu Ready scheme, Thaaimaaman Thangam Mothiram scheme, Annanin Seer and Vettri women’s goat-rearing scheme, have been announced, with funds allocated and steps being taken for their implementation.
