Chennai: For women, who might have felt distressed when they lost an understanding woman Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, that their causes would be ignored, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave great reassurance on the first day of his taking over.
Two of the five schemes he launched on Day 1 favoured women: closing down 500 more TASMAC shops was a great blessing for the suffering women and extending the Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme was a move that brought smiles among the women.
Starting with the closure of TASMAC shops to the latest launch of helpline for distressed women, the government under Palaniswami has launched various welfare measures for women.
BEST START
Fulfilling the promise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa that prohibition would be implemented in the State in a phased manner, Palaniswami announced that 500 more TASMAC shops would be closed in 2017.
VROOM VROOM
Palaniswami also promised that Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme would be implemented from 2017. Under this scheme, one lakh working women would be covered per year and Rs 200 crore was allocated for the implementation of the scheme. Fifty per cent grant or a maximum of Rs 20,000 was to be provided to working women to buy their own two-wheelers.
MOO FOR MOTHERHOOD
Announcing yet another pro-woman scheme, the Chief Minister, under the Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Scheme, said maternity assistance being given to women belonging to poor families would be hiked from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000. Through this measure, around six lakh women benefited and Rs 360 crore was estimated to be spent on this.
NO MORE DISTRESS
One of the highlights among the recent launches was commencement of a 24-hour helpline for women facing domestic violence or sexual harassment. Palaniswami launched the initiative, developed at a cost of Rs 62.70 lakh.
Women facing domestic violence or sexual harassment at home or workplaces can contact the toll-free helpline 181 to get assistance ranging from police help, legal aid or medical services, including ambulance.
In addition, women can also get information on welfare schemes aimed to benefit them besides government aid being provided to victims of domestic violence.
GOLD SHINES
Palaniswami also gave away gold and cash to seven beneficiaries of a government scheme for women in December 2018.
Adding to the pro-women initiatives, the ‘gold for mangalsutra’ scheme by AIADMK provides eight grams of gold and cash assistance to women from economically backward families for their marriage.
A sum of Rs 724 crore has been allocated for the scheme for year 2018-19, aimed at reaching out to 1.11 lakh beneficiaries.