Chennai: With just a week to go for the polls, actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Thursday released the party’s manifesto, promising Rs 2,500 financial assistance for women heads of households and a gold ring for newborns as part of a set of key guarantees.
In the 10 key guarantees, he promised Rs 2,500 for women heads of households, six free cooking gas cylinders a year, one sovereign gold ring for newborns, and Rs 15,000 education assistance for mothers of schoolgoing children, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Vijay appealed to the people to draw the party’s whistle symbol as a kolam in front of their houses. Apart from the poll manifesto, he said that, as an MLA of his constituency, he would visit it once a month and would be accessible to the people.
For youth empowerment, TVK has promised a monthly assistance of up to Rs 4,000 for unemployed graduates, a stipend-plus-internship scheme covering five lakh youth, Rs 5 lakh as new start-up loans, Rs 25 lakh in business launch loans, and a fixed timetable for all government recruitment examinations.
For education, he promised world-class education through 100 residential Kamarajar special schools, collateral-free higher education loans up to Rs 20 lakh, and modernised government schools along with AI-powered free competitive exam coaching centres.
For farmers, Vijay’s TVK assured Rs 15,000 as annual assistance per landholding farmer, a minimum support price of Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per quintal for sugarcane, five lakh solar pumps, Rs 10,000 as annual support for farm labourers, and 100% crop insurance apart from crop loan waivers.
Under healthcare, he promised family medical insurance with coverage up to Rs 25 lakh, new multi-speciality hospitals with modern infrastructure, annual free full-body check-ups, and a drug-free Tamil Nadu.
For fishermen, TVK promised Rs 27,000 as lean-season relief, subsidised diesel for fishing boats, Rs 25 lakh as accident insurance, and permanent housing.
The party also promised a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 for the differently abled, along with 200 units of free electricity and free drinking water connections for all homes.
Setting a target of a 1.5 trillion USD economy by 2036, TVK proposed an AI Ministry, an AI university, and Rs 15,000 crore in MSME support, along with devising district-wise “Mandala Plans”.
For state government employees, the party promised a review of restoring the Old Pension Scheme, regularisation of contract employees who have completed five years, Rs 18,000 as a monthly salary for Anganwadi workers, Rs 10,000 salary for sanitation workers, and Rs 15 lakh upon superannuation.