In a significant move towards empowering women and ensuring safety, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a series of initiatives during the assembly session on Friday. Geetha Jeevan, Minister for the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, unveiled plans to support women auto drivers and introduce policies for the LGBTQIA+ community.The government will provide a ₹1 lakh grant to 200 women auto drivers. Additionally, the state will operate pink autos, driven by women, at a cost of ₹2 crore. These pink autos will be operational in key locations such as railway stations and bus stands within Chennai city limits.
These specially colored autos will be equipped with a helpline number and a GPS tracking system. This initiative aims to enhance the safety of women and children, enabling easy monitoring by the police department and ensuring secure travel.
Minister Geetha Jeevan also announced that a policy for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and others (LGBTQIA+) community will be released soon. This policy is expected to address various issues faced by the community and promote inclusivity and equality.