DMK promises to double women’s grant to ₹2,000 if re-elected in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday reaffirmed the ruling DMK’s key electoral promise to double the monthly financial assistance provided to eligible women under the state’s flagship welfare programme, if the party returns to power.

Speaking at a government function held to mark the birth centenary of social justice leader V. Anaimuthu Stalin said the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Grant currently ₹1,000 per month would be raised to ₹2,000 under a proposed “Dravidian Model 2.0” government led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin .

At present, the scheme supports about 1.32 crore women heads of families across Tamil Nadu. Launched in 2023, the programme provides direct cash transfers aimed at strengthening household finances and promoting women’s economic independence. Doubling the assistance would sharply increase the state’s annual expenditure on the scheme, which already runs into tens of thousands of crores , creating a significant fiscal burden on the government.

Udhayanidhi Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu’s economic performance enabled the expansion of welfare programmes. He cited the state’s reported 11.19 per cent growth rate as evidence that social spending can be sustained alongside development.

The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted other major initiatives, including the Vidiyal Payana Thittam , which provides free bus travel for women . According to him, the scheme has facilitated about 920 crore free journeys over the past five years .

During the event, welfare assistance worth ₹359 crore was distributed to around 10,000 beneficiaries from Perambalur and Ariyalur districts. Stalin also pointed to industrial investments in the region including a ₹400-crore footwear manufacturing unit in Eraiyur and a ₹150-crore milk powder plant in Padalur which he said would generate substantial employment.

Paying tribute to V. Anaimuthu, whom he described as a prominent social justice figure, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that the state had nationalised the leader’s works and organised the centenary celebrations as an official event.

He added that he attended the programme not only as the grandson of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi , but also as an ideological successor to leaders such as Periyar, C.N. Annadurai and Anaimuthu .

The proposed enhancement of the entitlement grant is expected to be a key campaign plank for the DMK in the upcoming Assembly elections, reinforcing its welfare-driven governance model. With over 3 crore women voters in Tamil Nadu , the scheme could significantly influence electoral outcomes by directly appealing to a decisive voting bloc and addressing household economic concerns.