TN budget highlights schemes for women: Thozhi hostels and Vidiyal fare-free bus scheme

Despite being marred with controversy, the Tamil Nadu state budget this time highlighted schemes for women.

In his budget presentation in the state assembly in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu announced that ₹3,600 crore would be allotted as a subsidy for the fare-free ‘Vidiyal’ bus travel scheme for women. Women using fare-free bus services rose to 65 per cent from 40 per cent, stated Thenarasu, highlighting that 50 lakh women utilise the Vidiyal service on a daily average basis.

Aimed at women in low-income groups, the state finance minister added that beneficiaries under the fare-free bus travel scheme saved ₹888 per month, on average.

Thenarasu also announced 10 more ‘Thozhi’ working women’s hostels, earmarking ₹77 crore for their establishment. These ten would add to the already functioning 13 Thozhi hostels, bringing the total to 23.

The fin min also announced the allocation of ₹13,807 crore to the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam scheme for providing ₹1,000 monthly assistance for 1.15 crore women. Women, who are eligible but have not yet received ₹1,000 in assistance, would soon get the opportunity to apply for it, announced Thenarasu.

AIADMK, the major rival to the ruling party DMK staged a walkout before the Budget presentation after it tried to raise the alleged graft in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) at the assembly.

One day ahead of the Tamil Nadu Budget day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced that it has found "multiple irregularities" in the operations of TASMAC which has a monopoly over the liquor trade in Tamil Nadu.

The allegations included tender manipulation and unaccounted cash transactions worth ₹1,000 crore through distillery companies. The ED stated that it found evidence of corrupt practices following a raid of the corporate offices of TASMAC distilleries and plants on March 6.

”This collusion between distilleries and bottling companies was done through manipulation of financial records, concealed cash flows, and systematic evasion,” alleged the ED, “The findings confirm a network where unaccounted cash was deliberately generated through inflated and bogus expenses and subsequently utilized for purposes leading to huge profits.”

Despite the walkout, the budget presentation continued, with the finance minister announcing ₹3,500 crore for 1 lakh new houses under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme, ₹2,200 crore under the Chief Minister’s Rural Roads Development Scheme, and ₹88 crore for ‘sponge parks’ in Chennai. These sponge parks are expected to help recharge the region’s groundwater and reduce flooding.