Jayalalithaa promises plenty for everyone

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday promised free mobile phones and 50 percent subsidy for women who buy scooters if the AIADMK retained power in assembly elections.

The AIADMK leader also said that coupons worth Rs.500 would be given to all ration card holders, school students would continue to get free laptop and farm loans would be written off.

Interestingly, other major parties like the DMK have not announced free consumer durables in their manifesto.

Addressing an election rally at Perundurai in Erode district, she said 100 units of power consumed by households would be free and around 78 lakh households would benefit.

She also announced free set-top box for all subscribers of government-owned cable television service.

Jayalalithaa also released the AIADMK manifesto for the May 16 assembly elections.

She announced continuation of many of the welfare schemes initiated by her government.

Jayalalithaa said a new Rs.500 crore Amma Venture Capital Fund would come up to assist small and medium enterprises.

She promised a Lokayukta and to expand the Amma Mineral Water scheme and Metrorail network.

The other major promises are:

-- Venture Capital for Dalits, Amma Banking Card for poor, New granite policy, Interest subsidy for farmers who pay off loans on time, Farm seeds at subsidised rates, Subsidy to buy farm equipment, Continuing free goat scheme for poor families, Continuing with Amma Canteen and other Amma products and schemes, Financial assistance to poor pregnant women to go up to Rs.18,000, Free breakfast for primary school students and Eight gram of gold for poor girls when they get married.

--IANS

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