COIMBATORE: TVK leader Vijay on Tuesday announced that agricultural loans would be fully waived for those owning less than five acres of land while farmers with more than five acres would receive a 50% waiver, once his party is elected to power. He promised to restore the old pension scheme for govt employees. Nurses, teachers and others who have worked for five years or more in temporary positions would be made permanent govt staffers, he said during an election campaign at Perumanallur in Tirupur district.Vijay said his party would release its “full election manifesto” on April 16. Addressing cadres and supporters, Vijay focused heavily on the concerns of weavers, MSMEs, farmers, govt employees and police personnel. He appealed to voters to back TVK in what he described as a “whistle revolutionary election.”For the weaving sector, the TVK govt would launch an e-commerce brand to take weaving products to international markets, Vijay said. He promised to establish “Vetri” showrooms across Tamil Nadu to sell saris and other woven garments directly to the public. Each family engaged in handloom and powerloom work would be provided Rs 30,000 through banks, he said. Vijay announced that free electricity would be increased to 500 units for handloom units and 1,500 units for powerloom units. He promised a life insurance coverage worth Rs 10 lakh for each weaver. Weavers’ pension would be raised to Rs 3,000 per month, he said.Vijay said Tamil Nadu has the second largest MSME base in the country and accused the DMK govt of presiding over the closure of many such units. He said TVK govt would create a Rs 15,000crore state credit guarantee fund to support the sector. He alleged that MSMEs were suffering because of a 400% peak-hour power tariff. He promised to scrap peak-hour charges to help industries compete globally. Vijay said the basic salary of police personnel would be increased to Rs 25,000 from Rs 18,200. Also, they would receive an additional Rs 1,000 per month. He said a “Police Welfare and Working Conditions Act” would be enacted to regulate duty hours, ensure weekly offs and raise washing allowance to Rs 1,000 from Rs 500. Police welfare hospitals would be established in Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Vellore and Tirunelveli. He said policewomen would not be deployed for bandobust duty, and mobile toilets would be provided for them.
Vijay at the Coimbatore airport. Photo by Tysion BEarlier, Vijay received a rousing welcome from party candidates and cadres when he arrived at Coimbatore International Airport around 1.35pm. His convoy moved towards Perumanallur via the Avinashi Road. Thousands of supporters lined up en route, waving flags and raising slogans. Cadres presented him with teddy bears, vels and large garlands during the roadshow.The massive turnout caused heavy traffic congestion on the Avinashi Road for more than an hour. According to party sources, around 13 cadres, including Sulur constituency TVK candidate N M Sukumar fainted due to heat exhaustion while waiting for Vijay’s arrival. They were given immediate medical attention. After Vijay’s speech, TVK Gobichettipalayam candidate K A Sengottaiyan climbed onto the campaign vehicle and presented him with a sword.
