Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday announced a slew of welfare measures for ex-servicemen and freedom fighters, including higher marriage assistance, pensions and financial aid, while pledging a corruption-free administration.
Unfurling the Tricolour at Fort St George to mark the 80th Independence Day celebrations here, Vijay said, “we are operating as a transparent, truthful and honest administration.”
The chief minister announced that, considering the welfare of ex-servicemen who served selflessly for the motherland, marriage assistance for their two daughters will be increased from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000.
For differently-abled ex-servicemen, he said the monthly financial assistance provided to differently-abled ex-servicemen and their dependents will be increased from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000.
The monthly pension provided under the Freedom Fighters’ Pension by the state government to freedom fighters will be raised to ₹23,000.
The monthly family pension provided by the state government to families of freedom fighters would be raised to ₹12,500.
For the legal heirs of historical leaders, the monthly special pension given to the descendants of freedom fighters Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Muthuramalinga Raghunatha Sethupathi and the Marudhu Brothers will be increased to ₹11,500.
The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged victorious in the April 23 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and formed the government with the support of Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League and the Left parties.
“Guided by the foundational principle of “all are born equal” (Pirappokkum ella uyirukum), we are operating as a transparent, truthful, and honest administration to build a Tamil Nadu free of bribery, corruption, and substance abuse, anchored in women’s safety and social justice,” he said.
Asserting that there must not be any compromise in public life, he said the welfare of the people is the absolute top priority.
“It is on this foundation that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government operates. On the same basis, we are implementing people-centric welfare schemes while maintaining administrative cooperation with the Central Government,” he underlined.
Stressing that the government has been implementing welfare schemes that benefit the public, he said the government was refining and continuing the Amma Unavagam introduced by late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa when she was the chief minister. “We are also expanding the breakfast scheme from Class 6 to Class 8 which will be launched on September 15,” he said.
Emphasising that his government has transformed government offices and police stations into public service centres, he said, “when citizens approach government offices seeking solutions to their grievances or assistance under welfare schemes, government officers must treat them with utmost dignity and kindness.”
“People should not be made to run around, and their requests must be properly examined to deliver appropriate solutions,” he said.
The chief minister also appealed to officials and the people of Tamil Nadu to ensure the state remains corruption-free.
Appealing to the people to firmly stand by his government, he said, “The Chief Minister post represents 8 crore people. That is why I say: the people are the real rulers here. Me and everyone here, as well as over there (MLAs and government officials) are merely servants of the people. That is how I view it.”
Later, Vijay distributed the ‘Thagaisal Thamizhar Award’ to former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M Krishnasamy. The award carries a cash prize of ₹10 lakh and a citation. It is presented to honour eminent personalities who have made significant contributions to the welfare of Tamil Nadu and the development of the Tamil fraternity.
Noted diabetologist Dr V Mohan received the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award for his contributions to diabetes research. The award was received by his daughter M Anjana, who is the managing director of Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai.
Coimbatore-based Nausheen Banu received the Kalpana Chawla Award for her courage and daring enterprise for being the first woman to run the world’s highest-altitude marathon at Mount Everest.
