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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday opened a camp here to facilitate application registration by women to benefit from the Rs 1,000 monthly basic income scheme, a flagship program of the ruling DMK system which is set to be launched in September.
On initiating the registration process, Stalin described the scheme as revolutionary that would lead to a rebirth in the lives of crores of women. A payment of 12,000 rupees per annum would be a great support for women, and a symbol of development. It will help them improve their living standards, live lives of self-respect and eradicate poverty.
The government had announced that the plan would be implemented from September 15, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Dravidian icon CN Annadurai, who is also the founder of DMK.
The prime minister said these goals embody the ideals of the Dravidian model of good governance inspired by reformist leader Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Dravidian icon C. N. Annadurai and late Chief Minister Karunanidhi, for whom it is named.
Stalin reiterated that the Kalianar assistance scheme of Rs 1,000 would be a remarkable initiative among all the social justice schemes implemented in Tamil Nadu. For the scheme, Rs 12,000 crore will be allocated next year.
Stalin, the head of the ruling DMK, pointed to the opposition’s criticism of the scheme.
“They (AIADMK) said that DMK seized power through false assertions. We were going to give (1,000 rupees help) after we took power. However, the financial conditions of the state were in bad shape and the country was under the control of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Now, the plan is set to launch on September 15th after a corrective action on the financial front to some extent, he stressed he apparently blamed on previous AIADMK systems (2011-21). The prime minister, without naming anyone, said that some of them were involved in false propaganda against the scheme and assured that it would be implemented.
In order to acknowledge and respect the hard work women do for their families, DMK promised to give them monthly assistance of Rs 1,000. The schema registration event symbolizes the start of fulfillment of the assurances given to the people.
“You must remember that this is your right; you need not regard it as assistance from the government.”
After launch, the amount (DBT) will be credited to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts and there is no room for ‘any errors’ at all. “I firmly believe that through this great scheme, the social and economic status of women in Tamil Nadu will be greatly improved,” said Stalin.
The initiative of the Women’s Self-Help Group here was launched by the late Chief Minister Karunanidhi in 1989. The initiation of the enrollment process in the Kalinaar Women’s Rights Scheme in Dharmapuri was based on the confidence that the projects started here would spread throughout Tamil Nadu.
He noted that in 2021, immediately upon taking office as prime minister, the first official dossier he signed was the scheme to provide free travel for women on state-run city buses.
“Every day, 36 lakh women use the free bus services and so far women have used the services 283 crores,” he said, adding that the free service has helped women save Rs 800-Rs 1,000 per month and that is the most important aspect.
He also included a slew of other welfare schemes such as a monthly assistance scheme of Rs 1,000 for female students, and a breakfast scheme for government school students. In continuation of such efforts, Kalinaar monthly assistance scheme of Rs 1,000 for women’s rights is named after late Chief Karunanidhi who implemented many schemes for the development of women, he said.
Inspecting the biometric enrollment process, he said that as many as 35,925 camps have been set up across the state for the enrollment process, which is led by 68,190 volunteers. “From today onwards, camps will also run on Sundays until August 28th.” The authorities said that the first phase of the special camp for Dharmapuri district will be held from July 24 to August 4, covering 2,21,484 family card holders.
The second phase of the camp will be held between 5 and 16 August for 2,47,111 ration card holders.
In the 2023-24 budget, the state government has announced an allocation of Rs 7,000 crore for the ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam’ (Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme) initiative to ensure a minimum basic income for eligible female heads of household. The scheme is expected to benefit approximately one crore woman.
In terms of eligibility, the government has said that the annual income of the family must be less than Rs 2.50 lakh per annum.
In case the applicant owns wet lands, it must be less than five acres, and in the case of dry lands, it must be less than ten acres. Annual domestic electricity consumption should be less than 3,600 units.
On July 7, Stalin, at a review meeting here, advised officials to ensure that no qualified person was excluded from the scope of the plan. District collectors must ensure that marginalized groups in society such as those who live on the streets, tribes, and sanitation workers benefit.
Even if the potential beneficiaries of the marginalized sections do not have the required documents like ration cards and Aadhar cards, facilities should be provided for them to obtain these documents.
Other aspects in terms of eligibility are the requirement that applicants have completed 21 years of age and a single woman/headed woman who has a ration card can apply for the monthly subsidy of Rs 1,000.
In the ration card, if a man’s name is mentioned as the head of the family, his wife is considered the woman who heads the family. For some reason, if the name of a man’s wife does not appear in the ration card, then one of the other women, who belongs to that family, will be treated as a woman head of household for the purpose of this system.
Minister of Municipal Administration KN Nehru, Minister of Agriculture MRK Bannerselvam, elected representatives and senior officials participated in the meeting.
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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