CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday announced that if voted to power, the party would provide Rs 10,000 as compassionate grant (karunai thogai) to every family in the state.“The compassionate grant is aimed at easing the burden on families hit by the steep rise in prices of essential commodities under the DMK regime,” EPS told reporters after paying floral tributes to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s statue at the party headquarters in Royapettah on her 78th birth anniversary.Stepping up his pre-election outreach, Palaniswami rolled out a string of welfare promises, seeking to counter the DMK govt’s recent disbursal of Rs 5,000 as advance payment under the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thogai scheme, including Rs 2,000 as special summer package, for 1.31 crore women beneficiaries.When asked whether he would raise taxes, EPS said it was premature to make any predictions. He added that the AIADMK would consult finance department experts to explore appropriate measures to augment the state’s revenue and sustain welfare schemes.EPS announced that the financial assistance for registered fishermen during Tamil Nadu’s annual fishing ban period would be enhanced from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 to better support their families. The free electricity allocation for handloom weavers would be increased from 300 units to 450 units, while powerloom weavers would receive an additional 400 units over and above the existing 1,000 units.He said loans availed by small traders and roadside vendors from cooperative societies would be waived once the AIADMK returns to power. He promised monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 for graduates and Rs 1,000 for those who have completed Class XII, provided they are registered with employment exchanges and awaiting job opportunities.Tuesday’s announcements were the third set of announcements. This includes monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to women head of families and three free gas cylinders per year to all ration cardholders.
