AIADMK poll promises: Free bus travel for men, Rs 2,000 for all ration cardholders, Rs 25,000 for women to buy two-wheelers

CHENNAI: Raising its poll pitch, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday announced that the ongoing free bus travel scheme for women in city buses, launched by DMK as one of its flagship programmes, would be extended to men as well if his party won the upcoming assembly election and returned to office. He assured that the existing free bus scheme for women ‘Magalir Vidiyal Payanam Thittam’ would continue. Unveiling the first of his five promises in the initial phase of AIADMK’s pre-poll assurances for the assembly election, Palaniswami announced Rs 2,000 to every ration card holder, calling it ‘Kula Vilakku Thittam’. The announcement is positioned as a counter to DMK govt’s flagship ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ scheme, which benefits more than 1.15 crore women. “The amount will be credited directly to the bank account of the woman head of the family,” Palaniswami said, amid applause from party functionaries. He made the announcements after paying floral tribute to party founder M G Ramachandran’s statue at AIADMK headquarters on his 109th birth anniversary. Amid criticism against the free bus travel scheme for men as well, former minister B Valarmathi, a member of the manifesto committee, defended the move, saying the party did not wish to leave anyone out or discriminate on any ground, including gender. Under the ‘Amma Iruchakkara Vaganam Valangum Thittam’, a subsidy of Rs 25,000 would be provided to five lakh women to help them purchase two-wheelers, another announcement aimed at women voters, who play a decisive role in electoral outcomes. Palaniswami guaranteed free housing for all under the ‘Amma Illam Thittam’, akin to the existing ‘Kalaignar Kanavu Illam Thittam’, and said the scheme would benefit landless and homeless people in both rural and urban areas. “The govt will acquire land and construct houses for young men from joint families belonging to Scheduled Caste communities, enabling them to establish separate households after marriage,” he said. AIADMK, if voted to power, would enhance the number of workdays under the guaranteed rural employment scheme from 100 to 150 days to aid rural development, he added. Responding to questions on whether providing Rs 2,000 per month to more than two crore ration cardholders would worsen the state’s debt, Palaniswami defended his promise, saying AIADMK had the “ability and talent” to manage state finances effectively. “The announcements will lead to an additional financial burden, but we will manage it by maintaining cordial relationship with our alliance partner, the BJP-led govt at the Centre. Like the Bihar and Andhra Pradesh govts, we will seek a special package to overcome the present financial situation. Our govt will also focus on capital investment to boost infrastructure and the state’s own revenue,” said S Semmalai, a member of the manifesto committee. Palaniswami said the party’s manifesto committee is touring the state to gather public inputs, and that comprehensive pre-poll promises would be announced after the exercise is completed.