In a push to Stalin's social justice commitment, Tamil Nadu launches monthly scheme for women

Stalin had announced the launch of the All India Federation for Social Justice on India's 73rd Republic Day

In a push to his government’s commitment towards social justice, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is launching a monthly basic income scheme that promises a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to over 1.06 crore eligible women.

The eligible women heads of a family will receive the money directly to their bank accounts under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam or Kalaignar Women Entitlement Scheme. The scheme, which is part of Satlin’s poll manifesto, is also being launched on September 15 in view of the birth anniversary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) founder CN Annadurai.

The scheme is open to all women heads of households who are not government employees, property owners, or taxpayers. Applicants must own a ration card and a bank account. The scheme is expected to cost the state government around Rs 7,000 crore per year.

Also read here: Tamil Nadu's mid-day meal: A recap of the 100-year-old scheme

According to the Tamil Nadu government, the scheme is aimed at alleviating poverty and fostering gender equality. The launch also comes ahead of the 2024 polls amid a debate on DMK versus BJP’s brand of politics.

Social justice means equitable division of resources, opportunities, and privileges to all in a society. Stalin had announced the launch of the All India Federation for Social Justice on India's 73rd Republic Day on January 26. This conference was seen as a major exercise to bring the Opposition parties together ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He had also written to 37 leaders of key political parties, including Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, inviting them to be a part of the federation.

“As I write this, our unique, diverse, multicultural federation is under threat of bigotry and religious hegemony. These forces can only be fought if all who believe in equality, self-respect, and social justice unite together," stated the letter.

According to The Print, Stalin had opposed reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) saying that the BJP did it keeping the upper castes in mind. “The BJP implemented EWS reservation on the pretext of helping the poor among forward castes. It is economic justice, not social justice.”

Recently, the Congress government in Karnataka also introduced a similar scheme. It launched the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to provide women heads of families with Rs 2,000 per month.