Chennai: Justifying his announcement on providing Rs. 2,000 per family to about 60 lakh below the poverty line (BPL) families across Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday said the financial assistance was not announced with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections.
Refuting the Opposition charge, Mr Palaniswami told the Assembly that several districts are reeling under drought and agricultural workers were not getting sufficient wages. People affected by cyclone Gaja in the coastal districts of the state don't have jobs.
“Taking these factors into account, the government has (on Monday) announced Rs 2,000 financial grant to the BPL families, and not with an eye on the polls” he said and added, “the aid will be given to all the BPL families regardless of their political affiliation.” It is meant for the working classes of Tamil Nadu.
He said the outlay for this one-time grant would be Rs. 1,200 crore and it would be included in the supplementary demands for grants to be made this fiscal.
A day after he announced the aid in the Assembly, DMK member K. Ponmudi raked up the issue during the debate on budget. Responding, Mr. Palaniswami asked the member if he favoured it or was against the initiative. The Chief Minister asked Ponmudi whether it was “right or wrong” for the government to provide such assistance. To this, the DMK MLA replied that he was okay with the scheme “but not with the way” it was being rolled out. Rs 2,000 will transferred to bank account: CM
Mr. Palaniswami announced that Rs 2,000 would be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiary families by this month-end.
Responding to the issue raised by DMK member Austin in the Assembly, who sought to know the government’s plan, Mr. Palaniswami said, “don’t be concerned. We have already worked out the fundamentals. The sum will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the BPL families by this month-end.”
