Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin extended the state govt’s welfare outreach on Tuesday, depositing Rs 2000 one time summer grant for 37.7 lakh people belonging to vulnerable sections of the society, who are under the state govt’s social safety net.Senior citizens, widows, physically challenged who were receiving monthly financial assistance from the govt, had a surprise in the morning when the Rs 2000 summer grant was deposited in their bank accounts along with the disbursement for March. The move comes 20 days after the state govt gave a summer incentive of Rs 2000 to Rs 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT). Chief minister Stalin said on X that there were demands from other people who were dependent on the govt’s social security pension for a similar summer grant. “We have fulfilled that request now,” he said. According to govt data, the 37.7 lakh people who got the Rs 2000 grant included 29.2 lakh were those who were receiving old age pension and widow pension. They received Rs 3200 each (including the monthly pension of Rs 1200 for March) in their bank accounts, while about 5.9 lakh persons with disabilities were credited Rs 3,500 each(including the monthly maintenance allowance of Rs 1500). In addition, about 2.5 lakh families of persons with severe disabilities received assistance of Rs 4,000 each (including their monthly assistance of Rs 2000).This apart, the govt also disbursed Rs 8000 per family for 1.62 lakh fishermen households as fishing ban period assistance. In addition, 14,870 tea farmers in Nilgiris district were given a Rs 8.53 crore support package, with an incentive of Rs two per kg for green tea leaves procured through 15 cooperative tea factories. Reiterating his govt’s commitment to the welfare of people from all sections, Stalin said no one would be left behind in the state’s development journey.
