16.94 lakh more women to benefit as State govt. expands Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam

In addition to the 1.13 crore women benefitting from the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, 16.94 lakh women have been included in the programme, as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the second phase of the programme on Friday evening.

Speaking at the function held in Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, Mr. Stalin said the monthly sum of ₹1,000 was only the beginning. “As women march ahead in rising Tamil Nadu, the sum would also increase. So would women’s rights.”

The sum of ₹1,000 was credited into the bank accounts of 16,94,339 women on Friday morning, Mr. Stalin said, adding that a total of 1,30,69,831 women would henceforth receive ₹1,000 in their bank accounts every month.

“Even those who belittle these programmes as freebies have launched the programme in their States,” Mr. Stalin said, pointing out that the programme had been launched in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Puducherry, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin listed the measures taken by the DMK government for the empowerment of women.

In line with the vision of late social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, the DMK government had ensured that women got their share in property, education, and employment, Mr. Udhayanidhi said.

Gandhian and veteran social activist Krishnammal Jagannathan (her daughter read out Ms. Jagannathan’s speech as she remained seated), recalled the help extended by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in her fight for women’s land rights.

She recalled the late social reformer Soundaram Ramachandran, and said the Keezhvenmani massacre had a lasting impact on her life and activism.

Paralympic medalist Thulasimathi Murugesan said that coming from a humble background, she made use of the infrastructure set up by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu in her native place of Kancheepuram. She highlighted the measures taken by the government in supporting sportspersons in the State, and encouraged students to never give up in their life. 

Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam delivered the vote of thanks.