₹5,000 Transferred To 1.3 Crore Women Ahead Of Tamil Nadu Polls, Says M. K. Stalin

In a major pre-election welfare move, the Tamil Nadu government has deposited ₹5,000 each into the bank accounts of over 1.3 crore women beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Scheme, the Chief Minister announced on Friday.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin said the amount includes advance instalments for February, March and April, along with additional summer assistance. The money was credited directly to bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Promise To Increase Monthly Aid

The Chief Minister also announced that if his party returns to power, the existing monthly assistance of ₹1,000 under the scheme will be increased to ₹2,000.

The government urged beneficiaries to use the funds for essential expenses such as education, healthcare and household needs.

About The Scheme

The Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Scheme was launched in September 2023. It initially covered around 1.13 crore women and has now expanded to approximately 1.31 crore beneficiaries across Tamil Nadu.

The scheme provides financial assistance to women heads of families, aiming to support household stability and economic participation.

Opposition Reacts

Opposition leaders criticised the timing of the transfer:

• AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami called it an election-driven move.
• BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned the government’s motives.
• Actor-politician Vijay also raised concerns about the timing of the special assistance.

The Election Commission has not yet announced the official polling dates.