Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday unveiled a series of welfare promises for women and families, including a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 for women who are heads of families, if his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) comes to power in Tamil Nadu.
Under the proposal, the monthly financial assistance will be given to women heads of families who are below 60 years of age. However, the benefit will not apply to households where a member is employed in the state or central government.
Vijay also promised six free LPG cylinders annually for every family as part of his party’s welfare agenda.
Focus on women’s safety
The TVK chief said ensuring the safety of women, children and the elderly would be a top priority if his party forms the government. He announced that a separate government department would be created to address their safety and welfare under his direct supervision.
As part of the initiative, Vijay proposed the formation of a “Rani Velu Nachiyar Force” aimed at ensuring zero tolerance for crimes against women. Around 500 such groups would be deployed across the state to provide security at crowded public places, with personnel equipped with body cameras.
He also promised the establishment of “Anjalai Ammal Super Fast Women’s Courts” to handle cases related to crimes against women and ensure faster delivery of justice.
Technology-driven safety measures
Vijay said technology would play a key role in improving women’s safety. He announced plans to install smart panic buttons in public transport buses and private share autos.
These panic buttons would be connected to a 24/7 centralised command centre, allowing authorities to respond within five minutes in case of emergencies.
In addition, a “Zero Dark Spots” initiative would be introduced to ensure that no public place in the state remains without proper lighting and CCTV surveillance.
Welfare and education support
Among other promises, Vijay said women would be provided eight grams of gold and a silk saree at the time of their marriage, describing it as “their brother Vijay’s contribution” to their celebrations.
He also criticised the state government’s existing free bus scheme for women, saying the benefit is currently limited to “pink buses”, which forces women to wait for those specific services.
If TVK comes to power, Vijay said women would be allowed to travel free on all government buses.
Addressing the issue of school dropouts, he said financial difficulties often force students to discontinue their studies. To tackle this, Vijay promised an annual financial support of Rs 15,000 for the mother or guardian of every child studying from Class 1 to Class 12.
The assistance, he said, would help families keep their children in school and reduce dropout rates.
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